the glory of God to train up our children and servants in the knowledge and obedience of the holy Scriptures what blessings it will bring upon our selves and Families what exceeding great benefits will accrue thereby to our children what good we may do to the generations that are yet to come how much it tends to the propagating of Religion and the power of godliness and how Family Instruction may be carried on successfully to the Conversion Edification and eternal Salvation of such as are under charge you may see in the perusal of this ensuing Treatise which I have composed for the use of such Heads of Families as are not provided of better helps but more especially for you my dearly beloved Friends among whom I have lived and with whom I have conversed My humble and earnest request to you is that if you have any love to the Lord Jesus you would express it by feeding his Lambs with the sincere milk of his Word if you have any zeal for the glory of God if any bowels towards your posterity if any desire of their spiritual and eternal welfare if any regard to the generations that are yet unborn if you have ever found any comfort in or benefit by the Word of God that you would bend your minds and set your hearts to this good work of instructing your children and servants in the knowledge and training them up in the obedience of the Scriptures And that you and all others into whose hands the Providence of God shall bring this small Treatise may by the perusal thereof be quickned to directed and encouraged in this work of Family Instruction and be enabled to manage the same to the glory of God your own and your Families Edification shall be the prayer of Your Servant in the work of the Lord Owen Stockton ERRATA Page 17. line 15. for 1 Cor. 5.7 read 1 Cor. 1.5 7. p. 23. l. 27. for 1 Pet. 2.22 r. 1 Pet. 1.22 p. 75. l. 15. r. Cocceius p. 105. l. 20. for Prov. 15.20 r. Prov. 13.20 p. 144. l. 2. r. fortifie Some other small faults have escaped the Press which the judicious Reader will easily correct The Contents THe neglect of Family Instruction a great evil page 1 2. Several Scriptures to prove it to be our duâ—y to instruct our Families and that the Instructions which we give them be drawn out of the Word of God page 3. to the 11. Servants as well as Children must be instructed page 11. to the 16. The ignorance of Children and Servants proves the necessity of Family Instruction page 16 17 Ignorance brings many and great evils upon our Families page 17. to 22 The corruption that is in Children and Servants prove the necessity of Family Instruction page 22 to 26 Family Duties cannot be performed without Family Instruction page 26. to 30. We have Gods example for teaching our Children and Servants page 30. to 33. Mothers as well as Fathers must instruct their Children page 33. to 40. Chap. 2. Motives to Family Instruction 1. Instructing our Children and Servants will be a means of their conversion page 40 41. Six reasons why we should labour after our Children and Servants conversion page 41. to 45. 2. Neglect of Family Instruction makes us guilty of our Children and Servants blond What a great evil it is to be guilty of the bloud of souls page 45. 3. Instructing our Children out of the Scriptures instils wisdom into them The advantages that will come to them by being endued with wisdom page 51. to 57. 4. Instructing our Children will bring them great advantage on several accounts page 57. to 62. 5. We benefit our selves several ways by instructing our Families page 62. to 66. 6. The neglect of Family Instruction is the cause of several evils page 66. to 59. 7. Family Instruction will propagate Religion to a thousand generations page 69. to 73. 8. Family Instruction greatly advanceth the glory of God page 73. to 76. 9. We shew our love to God by instructing our Families page 76 77. 10. Gods mercy in giving us Families should stir us up to instruct them page 77. to 79. 11. We have the example of Jesus Christ and the best men that ever lived for instructing their Families page 79. to 84. 12. Gods Judgements that have lately been upon the Nation call for Family Instruction and Family Reformation page 84. to 87. 13. The usefulness and excellency of the Scriptures should stir us up to train up our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures page 87. to 92. 14. They deal unjustly with their Families who defraud them of Instruction page 92. to 95 Chap. 3. Directions how to manage the work of Family Instruction so as to promote the Conversion Edification and eternal Salvation of all such as are under our charge page 95. to 200. 1. Direct We must be diligent in studying the Scriptures page 95. to 98. 2. We must teach our Families the knowledge of the Principles and the practice of the Duties of Religion Nothing but the Truth Soul-saving Truths seasonable Truths page 98. to 107 What are Soul-saving Truths page 102. to 105. What are seasonable Truths page 106 107. 3. We must instruct our Families in the most edifying manner What manner of Instruction is must edifying What are Edifying Duties page 107 to 113. 4. We must take the fittest seasons for Family Instruction What are the fittest seasons for this work page 113. to 116. 5. We must cause them to keep the Word of God in remembrance What benefits come by remembring the Word page 116. to 119. 6. We must watch over our Families page 119. to 121. 7. We must reprove them when they do any thing contrary to the Word of God page 121 122. How to manage this duty of Reproof with success page 122 to 128. 8. When Reproofs take no place we must correct our Children page 128 How Corrections may be made effectual for our Childrens good page 129. to 132. 9. We must keep up our authority in our Families page 132. How to keep up our authority in our Families page 132 to 137. 10. We must endeavour to gain our Children and Servants affections How this may be done page 137. to 140. 11. We must endeavour to engraft those Scriptures which we teach our Children and Servants in their hearts How this may be done page 140. to 143. How to bring our Children and Servants in love with the Word page 143. 12. We must endeavour to draw our Families to Christ page 144. How to draw our Children and Servants to Christ page 144. to 148. How to fortifie our Families against the offence of the Cross that when troubles arise for the Gospels sake they may not fall off from the ways of Christ page 148. to 151. 13. We must labour to know the state of the several members of our Families How we may gain this knowledge page 152 to 155. 14. We must commune with our Children and Servants about their
glory from them that perish page 313. 314. 6. We should consider Gods great mercy in taking our own souls into a Covenant of Life and Salvation page 314. 315. The case of such as are overwhelmed with grief because they fear their Children are in eternal torments Gods justice in punishing sinners to eternity vindicated page 315 to 325. The case of such as are troubled because they conveyed Original Sin to their Children considered page 325 to 327. The case of such as are troubled because their Childrens bloud will be required at their hands considered page 327 to 331. Though it be a great sin to be guilty of the bloud of souls yet 't is a pardonable sin page 329. 330. The case of such as are cast down because God hath not answered their Prayers for their Children or prospered their labours considered page 331 332. The case of such as cannot reconcile the Providence of God in casting away their seed with his promise I will be thy God and the God of thy seed page 333 to 336. A TREATISE OF Family-Instruction CHAP. I. The Evils that arise from the neglect of Family-Instruction Whence it proceeds that Family-Instruction is neglected Five Arguments to prove it to be a Duty The Instructions we give our Families must be drawn out of the Scriptures Servants as well as Children must be instructed Mothers as well as Fathers must instruct their Children THe neglect of Family-Instruction is a great and yet a common Evil The sad effects thereof such as the decay of the power of Godliness gross ignorance undutiful and disobedient Children evil and unfaithful Servants the growth and increase of sin c. are so plain and visible almost in all places that he that runneth may read them Neither is it the present Generation only which is corrupted through the carelesness of those Parents and Masters of Families who neglect to train up their Children and Servants in the knowledge and fear of God but hereby ignorance and iniquity are like to be propagated unto and greatly increased in the Generations which are yet to come For when God shall give those Children and Servants who were trained up without Instruction Families of their own it is most probale that they will neglect to teach their Children and Servants and that the succeeding Generations which shall spring out of their Loyns will tread in their Fathers steps and so vice and ignorance will descend from one Family to an other for many generations If we enquire into the ground and cause of this evil whence it cometh to pass that Family-Instruction is so much neglected I conceive the reason of most if not of all mens neglect of this Duty may be reduced to one of these four heads 1. Either they are not convinced that it is their Duty to instruct their Families Or 2. Though they know it to be their Duty they want an heart to set about the performance of it Or 3. Though they are willing to instruct their families yet they know not how to set about this work at least they know not how to carry it on in an advantageous successful manner and therefore leave it undone Or 4. They have gotten certain pleas whereby they think to excuse their neglect of this work Wherefore in this ensuing Treatise the design whereof is to excite parents and masters of families to train up their children in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures I shall do these four things 1. I shall prove it is the duty of parents and masters of families to instruct their children and servants in the knowledge and to train them up in the obedience of the word of God 2. I shall produce some motives to excite those who neglect this work of Family-instruction to be diligent constant and conscientious in the performance of their duty in teaching and instructing their families 3. I shall give some directions how this work of family-instruction may be carried on so as to promote the conversion edification and eternal salvation of such as are under our charge 4. I shall answer the most material Pleas and Objections that are brought against training up our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures whereby many persons are either kept from or discouraged in the performance of this work I shall begin with the first of these namely to prove that it is the duty of all Parents and Masters of Families to teach the Scriptures unto their Children and Servants and to train up their Families in the knowledge and obedience of the Word of God SECT 1. Scripture proofs for Family-Instruction The Instructions we give our Families must be drawn out of the word of God Arg. 1 WE have many plain and express Commandments from God wherein the Lord straightly chargeth all Parents and Masters of families to teach his word unto their children and servants and requireth them to be very diligent therein I shall mention some places both out of the old and also out of the new Testament where we have express commands from God for the teaching his word to our children and prove that under the name of Children are comprehended our Servants and all the Members of the Family Deut. 6.6 7. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up This being a full and pregnant Text for proving the point in hand I shall observe several things from it 1. What it is which we are to teach our children and that is the word of God These words which I command thee this day thou shalt teach them unto thy Children The Apostle gives this commendation of the Scripture that it is profitable for instruction in Righteousness 2 Tim. 3.16 and intimates to us Rom. 2.17 18. That the Jews drew their instructions which they gave to those whom they taught out of the Law of God Behold thou art called a Jew and knowest his will and approvest the things that are more excellent being instructed out of the Law of God 2. Observe who they are whom God commands to teach his word unto their Children and you shall find that this Charge is not given to the Tribe of Levi but to all Israel The Lord calls out twice to the whole Body of the People Hear O Is ael vers 3. Hear O Israel vers 4. If it had been said Hear O House of Aaron or Hear O ye Sons of Levi we might have thought it had special reference to the Ministers of the Word but when this charge is ushered in with a double Call to all Israel to give audience no man can say This Command of teaching Gods word to my Children belongeth not unto me except he be one that is and resolveth to continue an alien to the Commonwealth of Israel I may adde further that
I shall give four or five directions 1. Let this work be done when there is greatest quiet in the Family not at such a time as the Members of the Family are distracted or cumbred with variety or a multitude of worldly business or when their Spirits are royled with passion or contention but when they are in the most quiet and composed frame Eccles 9.17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet 1 Cor. 7.35 That you may attend upon the Lord without distraction 2. Let this work be done often Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another Deut. 6.7 Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children God worketh many ways and often times with us to bring about our salvation Job 33.29 30. Lo all these things worketh God often times with man to bring back his Soul from the pit to be enlightned with the light of the Living And shall we think much to be diligent and frequent in teaching our Children and Servants that their Souls may be kept from falling into the pit of Hell and that they may be enlightned with that knowledge which will make them wise to Salvation 3. It will be convenient to have fixed and stated times for the doing of this work that so the Family may be the better prepared for it and all family-occasions may be so ordered and all business set at such a stay as that every one may be at liberty and leasure to attend this work 4. Avocations and Diversions should not be easily yielded to for the putting by our intended exercise at the appointed time As for instance If Company come in though they be great Persons and such as are our Superiours we should not be ashamed to go on with our works Psal 119 46. I will speak of thy Testimonies also before Kings and will not be ashamed And if we be at any time diverted by some unexpected and urgent occasions we should redeem that loss by taking some other time for their instruction as soon as conveniently we can 5. We should take such times wherein both we and our Families are fresh and lively not over-tired with worldly business not heavy with sleep for we must be fervent in spirit when we serve the Lord Rom. 12.11 and when the Body is tired or heavy with sleep the Spirit is not likely to be servent 6. The Lords day which is to be spent in holy and Religions Exercises Isa 58.13 is a very convenient time for this work It was the Custom of the Jews to read the Scriptures in their Synagogues every Sabbath day Acts 15.21 Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day And we need not doubt but they did the same in their Families seeing they were commanded by God to read some portion of his word every day as long as they lived yea their greatest men even their Kings who had the weightiest business of all other men lying upon their hands were not excused from this Law of daily reading the Scriptures Deut. 17.18 19. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom that he shall write him a Copy of this Law in a Book And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to do them I shall not undertake to prescribe what other days besides Lords days Masters of Families should take for this work but shall leave that to their own prudence and discretion Only I shall say this That they for whom God hath done much and who have more spare time than others should be more frequent and abundant in this work For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required Luk. 12.48 SECT 5. The Advantages that come by having the Word of God in our Memories Direct 5 CAuse your Children and Servants to commit to their memories those Scriptures which you teach them and to keep them in remembrance We are often commanded to treasure up Gods Word in our Memories Job 22.22 Receive I pray thee the Law from his mouth and lay up his words in thine heart Deut. 6.6 These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart And because this duty of committing Gods Word to our Memories is much neglected both by Parents themselves as well as their Children to stir up both the one and the other to the practice of it let me shew you how much this duty is urged upon us and what advantages will come by it The Prophets of God charge us in Gods name to remember the word of the Lord Mal. 4 4. Remember ye the Law of Moses my Servant which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel with the Statues and Judgments Jesus Christ when he was in the world charged us to remember his word John xv 20. Remember the word that I said unto you The Apostles also call upon us to keep in memory Gods word Jude 17. Beloved remember ye the words that were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20.35 I have shewn you all things how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus Heb. 2.1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest at any time we let them slip The holy Angels when they appeared to those that came to Christs Sepulchre bid them remember the words of Christ Luke 24.6 Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee One great benefit which we have by the holy Ghost is his helping us to remember Gods word John 14.26 The Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you We have seen how earnestly this duty is pressed upon us now let us see what advantages will come to us by remembring Gods Word 1. It will be an help to Faith John 2.22 When he was risen from the dead his Disciples remembred that he had said this unto them and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said 2. It helps us in our obedience Numb 15.40 That ye may remember and do all my Commandments and be holy unto your God Psal 119.55 I have remembred thy name O Lord in the night and have kept thy Law 3. It is an help to Repentance Matth. 26.75 And Peter remembred the words of Jesus and he went out and wept bitterly 4. It promotes our Comfort Psal 119.52 I remembred thy Judgments of old O Lord and have comforted my self 5. It will breed a spiritual frame of heart for if Gods word be treasured up in our hearts it will be in our minds night and day Prov. 6.21 22. Bind them continually upon
Scriptures according as you have directed if I were able to do it but the work is difficult and I am a man of mean abilities I have but little acquaintance with the Scriptures I have need to be taught my self and how then can I teach my Family It is nothing but want of ability that hinders and discourageth me from setting upon this work Answer First Let not your own weakness or the difficulty of the work keep you from setting upon it For 1. It is a work that God calleth you to do as you may see Deut. 6.7 Ephes 6.4 And the plea of inability is not a sufficient excuse for neglecting the work to which you are called of God When God called Jeremiah to be a Prophet he would have excused himself by pleading his inability Jer. 1.6 Ah Lord behold I cannot speak for I am a Child Did God accept of this excuse No but reproves him and tells him he should go where-ever he sent him and speak whatever he commanded him although he looked upon himself as unable as a Child for the work he was called to Vers 7. But the Lord said unto me Say not that I am a Child for thou shalt go unto all that I shall send thee and whatsoever I command thee thoushalt speak When God called Moses to go and speak to Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of Egypt he would have refused and pleads his unfitness because he was not eloquent but of a slow speech Exod. 4 10. Moses said unto the Lord O my Lord I am not eloquent neither heretofore nor since thou hast spoken unto thy Servant but I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue But what did God say He refused this plea and commandeth him to go about his work vers 11 12. And the Lord said unto him Who hath made mans mouth Or who maketh the Dumb or Deaf or the Seeing or the Blind Have not I the Lord Now therefore go and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say 2. God can do great things by weak means and and therefore your weakness should not deter you from this work Psal 8.2 Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine Enemies that thou mightest still the Enemy and the Avenger 1 Cor. 1.27 28. God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are 3. God will be with you in this work and that may strengthen you to set upon it though the work be great and your strength be small Hag. 2.4 Be strong all ye people of the Land saith the Lord and work for I am with you saith the Lord of Hosts The Jews complained they were not able to build Neh. 4.10 but to take off this plea God promiseth them his presence and assistance as that which was sufficient to strengthen them for that difficult work which they complained they were not able to go on withall Be strong and work for I am with you What David said to Solomon when he had a great work to do and might be discouraged because he was young and unable for such great service 1 Chron. 22.5 16. Arise and be doing and the Lord be with thee or as Junius and Piscator render the words the Lord will be with thee So may I say unto you Let not your unfitness for this work keep you from it but arise and be doing and the Lord will be with you You may be sure the Lord will be with you in teaching and instructing your Families for he commandeth you to do this work as I have already shewn you out of Deut. 6.6.7 and several other Scriptures And you need not doubt of having Gods presence in every work and service which he commands you to do Josh 1.9 Have not I commanded thee Be strong and of a good courage be not afraid neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest 4. Although your abilities be but small yet if you teach and instruct your Families according to the ability which God hath given you you shall by so doing glorifie God 1 Pet. 4.10 11. As every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another If any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ 5. By improving those mean abilities which God hath given you in teaching your Families you shall have them increased The way of the Lord is strength to the upright Prov. 10.29 The man that had but two Talents trading with them gained other two Matth. 25.17 6. He that hath but very little and mean abilities if he improve those small abilities faithfully in the place and sphear that God hath set him in shall have a great Reward from God as well as they that have had greater abilities Luke 19.17 Well thou good servant because thou hast been faithful in a very little have thou authority over ten Cities Secondly Difficult works will be carried on successfully by weak means where there is a willing mind The building of Jerusalem after it had lain waste seventy years was a hard work the strength and estates of the Jews were much impaired by their long captivity Their Adversaries scoffed at them thinking they went about an impossible thing when they endeavoured to build up the wall of the City and said Neh. 4.2 3. What do these feeble Jews Will they fortifie themselves Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of Rubbish which are burnt Even that which they build if a Fox go up he shall even break down their stone Wall And not only their Adversaries but many of the Jews themselves thought they were unable to carry on this work vers 10. And Judah said The strength of the Bearers of Burdens is decayed and there is much Rubbish so that we are not able to build the wall Yet when they went to it with a willing mind the work went on prosperously vers 6. So built we the wall and all the wall was joyned together unto the half thereof for the People had a mind to work It argueth a slothful spirit to desist from our duty because there are some difficulties attend it Prov. 26.13 The slothful man saith There is a Lion in the way a Lion in the streets Get but a willing mind and then this work will not be difficult but easie and delightful Thirdly The Apostle acknowledgeth that the Hebrews had but little knowledge he saith of them Heb. 5.12 When for the time ye ought to be teachers ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God and are
after his own Image in Righteousness and true Holiness That Adam did not continue in this estate but sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit That all men have sinned and come short of the Glory of God That the wages of sin is death That Jesus Christ died for our sins That he rose again from the dead the third day That he ascended into Heaven and sitteth there at Gods right hand to make Intercession for us That whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ shall receive remission of sins and have eternal life That the dead shall be raised and be all judged at the last day That at the day of Judgment they that have done evil shall be cast into Hell Fire where they shall remain for ever and they that have lived godly in Christ Jesus shall be taken into the Kingdom of Heaven c. Now if you have not ability to teach them the more abstruse and mysterious points of the Christian Religion teach them those things which are plain and easie and whilst you do so God will open your Understandings and give you farther insight into the Mysteries of the Gospel 3. Your fear of wresting the Scriptures should make you diligent in using the means to get a true and right understanding of the Scriptures but it should not make you neglect your duty in teaching your Children the knowledge of the Scriptures That man who had but one Talent and out of fear did not improve his Talent but went and hid it in the Earth was not excused by his having but a mean Talent or by his pleading his fearfulness but is called by his Lord a wicked a slothful servant and was cast into outer darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of Teeth Matth. 25.24 25 26 30. He which had received the one Talent came and said Lord I knew thee that thou art a hard man And I was afraid and went and hid thy Talent in the Earth lo there thou hast that is thine His Lord answered and said unto him Thou wicked and slothful servant thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not and gather where I have not strawed thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the Exchangers that I might have received mine own with usury Take therefore the Talent from him And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth If you ask What means should we use that we may come to the true and right understanding of the Scriptures and be kept from wresting them I answer 1. Be sensible of your own inability to understand the Scriptures of your selves and pray to God to open your understandings and to guide you into the true and right meaning of his holy word It is Gods work to open the eyes of our understandings whereby we may understand his word Luc. 24.45 Then opened he their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Prov. 20.12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye the Lord hath made even both of them And seeing it is Gods work to enlighten our minds we must pray to God to reveal to us the meaning of his word when we give our selves to the reading of it Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law And when we do with humble and lowly minds seek unto God he will teach us and lead us into the knowledge of the truth Prov. 28.5 They that seek the Lord understand all things Psal 25.9 The meek will he guide in judgment the meek will he teach his way They are usually proud and self-conceited persons that fall into error Psal 119.21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed that do erre from thy Commandments 2. Read the Scriptures diligently and mark the coherence of what you read with that which went before and that which followeth after observe the scope and consider well both the words and matter of those places which have any difficulty in them this will help you to a right understanding of the Scriptures 2 Tim. 2.7 Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things 3. Compare one Scripture with another that which is more obscure with that which is more clear that is the way to come to know the mind of Christ in the Scriptures 1 Cor. 2.13 16. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual we have the mind of Christ 4. Consider what is the general design and scope of the whole Scripture and if you would not wrest the Scriptures understand and expound particular Texts so as they may agree with and not contradict the general scope and design of the whole Scripture Now the general scope and design of the Scripture is 1. To bring us to believe in Christ and to teach us to expect eternal Life by believing on Christ John 20.31 These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name Prov. 22.19 20. That thy trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee Have I not written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge 2. To keep us from sinning against God 1 John 2.1 My little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not And to direct and help us to live holy and godly lives Tit. 1.1 According to the faith of Gods Elect and the acknowledging of the truth which is after Godliness 1 Tim. 6.3 If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness 3. The general design of the Scriptures is to comfort and to encourage us in all estates and conditions to hope in God Rom 15.4 Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope 5. Receive such Truths as God reveals to you out of his word with love and yield sincere obedience to them When persons do not love and obey the Word God gives them up oft-times to strong delusions that they believe lies instead of truth 2 Thes 2.10 11. Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie But as for such as do sincerely obey the voice of the Lord and continue therein the Lord is wont to give them good understandings and the spirit of a sound mind Psal 110.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his Commandments John 7.17 If any man will do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self 6. Lean not to your own understandings but trust in the Lord with all your hearts rely upon him to keep you from Errour of Judgment and to lead and guide
way and while he opened to us the Scriptures If you endeavour to water your Families with the dew of heaven God will water your souls Prov. 11.25 He that watereth shall be watered also himself 3. If you do this work out of obedience to the command of God and act your faith on the Lord Jesus for the pardon of the imperfections that attend this work though you do not find so much comfort and delight in the doing thereof as you wish you could but are sensible of some driness and flatness of spirit yet your work shall be accepted of God Acts 10.35 In every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him 4. If you apply your selves to Jesus Christ he will take away your driness and refresh and replenish your Souls with the Graces of his Spirit It is said of Jesus Christ That he shall be as Rivers of Water is a dry place Isa 32.2 And he hath promised such of his Servants as find their Souls to be like the dry ground that he will pour out his Spirit like flouds of water upon them that is in an abundant measure Isa 44.3 I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and flouds upon the dry ground I will pour out my Spirit upon thy Seed and my Blessing upon thine Off spring SECT 14. The Plea of such as say 'T is the Ministers work to instruct their Children answered Object 14 THis is the Ministers work not mine to catechise and instruct my Servants and my Children and why then should I take it in hand Answer Besides what the Ministers of Gods word are to do in this kind it is the duty of Parents and Masters of Families to teach and instruct their Children and Servants as hath been proved already by many clear Texts of Scripture I shall re-mind you of some of them Isa 38.19 The Father unto the Children shall make known thy truth Psal 78.5 He established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children Ephes 6.4 And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Deut. 6.6 7. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children This Precept is not given only to the Priests or Levites but to the whole House of Israel vers 4. So that it is a frivolous excuse for any man to think to put off this work from himself by saying it is the Ministers work to catechise his Children for God commandeth all Parents to teach his Word to their Children Yea it is a notorious falsehood for any man to say This is none of my work to instruct my Family whenas the Lord hath given so many and such strict Precepts to every man to instruct his Children SECT 15. Only such as are called of God are to take upon them the work of the Ministry Family-Instruction will not bring the Ministry into contempt Object 15 IF every man should take upon him to teach and instruct his Family this would be the way to make every man turn Preacher and would cause the Ministers of the Word to be slighted and despised and this makes us not only forbear this work our selves but also to dislike it in others because we would not have any take upon them the work of the Ministry but such as are called to it and we would not have the publick Ministry brought into contempt Answ 1. Family-Instruction and the work of the Ministry are two distinct works The one belongs to every Master of a Family the other belongs only to such as are called and sent forth by God to preach the Gospel Rom. 10.15 How shall they preach except they be sent And God hath not called all men to the work of the Ministry 1 Cor. 12.28 29. God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers Are all Apostles Are all Prophets Are all Teachers We may learn from this Text 1. That none are to be Teachers in the Church but those whom God sets there 2. That God doth set some not all to be Teachers in the Church Under the Law no man was to take the Office of the Priesthood without a call from God Heb. 5.4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself but he that was called of God as was Aaron Yea God made it death for such as were not called to intermeddle with the Priests Office Numb 18.7 Thou and thy Sons with thee shall keep your Priests Office for every thing of the Altar and within the Vail and ye shall serve And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death What work our Lord Jesus did in and for the Church of God he did not do it without a Call Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high Priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee And God hath ordained under the Gospel that every man should improve those gifts which he hath distributed to him within the sphere and compass of his Calling 1 Cor. 7.17 As God hath distributed to every man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all Churches Those works which are in themselves good works become sinful when they are done by those that have no call to do them and instead of being rewarded they have been punished by the Lord. To burn Incense upon the Altar of Incense was a very good and acceptable work David wisheth that his Prayer might be like Incense Psal 141.2 Let my Prayer be set before thee as incense Yet when Vzziah undertook to burn Incense who had no Call to do it it is called a Transgression and he was punished with Leprosie all his days 2 Chron. 25.18 21. It appertaineth not unto thee Vzziah to burn incense unto the Lord but to the Priests the Sons of Aaron that are consecrated to burn incense go out of the Sanctuary for thou hast trespassed neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God And Vzziah the King was a Leper unto the day of his death The more knowledge any man hath of the Scriptures the less fear there is of his taking upon him the work of the Minstry without a Call from God what this Call is and how a man may discern when he hath it would be too great a digression if I should here undertake the explanation thereof because the Scriptures are so full so plain so express in this point That only they that are called of God should take upon them the work and Office of the Ministry So that this Objection Every man will turn Preacher if he take upon him to instruct his Family in the knowledge of the Scriptures is of no force to hinder this work of Family-Instruction 2. Neither will
but were in a state of Grace they had Faith as precious Faith as the Apostle himself who wrote this Epistle vers 1. To them that have obtained like precious Faith with us But by the dawning of the Day is meant the Day of Glory which is called the Day of Christ Phil. 1.9 10. Phil. 2.16 and by way of Emphasis That Day 2 Tim. 4.8 And by the Apostle Peter in this same Epistle Chap. 3.12 The Day of the Lord. It is the dawning of this day that the Church and People of God long for Cant. 2.16 Vntil the day break and the shadows flee away turn my Beloved and be thou like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of Bether Rev. 22.20 Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus By the Day-Star arising in their hearts is meant their full and immediate fruition of the Lord Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven for they having like precious Faith with the Apostle had this Day-star the Lord Jesus already dwelling in their hearts by faith Ephes 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith And the Apostle speaks not of what they had already but of what they should attain unto hereafter which is their full and immediate enjoyment of Christ in Heaven Our entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven may well be set out by this Phrase the Day-star arising in our hearts because when we come to heaven there shall be great Glory revealed in us as well as given to us Rom. 8.18 I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us And the reason why the Saints desire to be in Heaven is That they may be with Christ Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ The World may well be stiled a dark place in opposition to the Kingdom of Heaven which is called by the Name of Light Col. 1.12 The Inheritance of the Saints in Light and because most places and persons in the world are full of Ignorance and Darkness In the Psalmists days all places of the earth except the Land of Israel were dark places Psal 74.20 The dark places of the earth are full of the Habitations of Cruelty And in Israel which was a Land of Vision the Prophet complains Hos 4.1 There is no knowledge of God in the Land Now as long as we are in this dark place the World where we are compassed about with much ignorance we shall do well to take heed to the word of Prophecv which the Lord hath given us as a Light to guide and direct our paths till the Day of Glory dawn upon us and we are taken up into the Kingdom of Heaven where there shall be no need of the Sun or Moon or any Temple but the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb shall be the Light of His People for ever Revelat. 21. 22 23. Thirdly We may observe That we cannot have a more sure Rule to guide us either in matters of Faith or Practice than the holy Scriptures What do we desire to guide and direct us what we should believe or what we should practise Do we desire a Vision a Revelation a Voice from Heaven The Word of Prophecy is as sure as these Yea the Apostle having been speaking of a Voice from Heaven gives the preheminence to the Word of Prophecy and saith We have a more sure Word of Prophecy Besides this place which I have already produced to prove that the Light to which we must attend and by which we must order our Lives and Conversations is the Mind and Will of God revealed in the Scriptures I might mention several others as Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light Psal 119.105 Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path The same also may be gathered from the discourse of Christ with the Lawyer and of Abraham with the rich man that was in Hell-Torments Luc. 10.25 26 27 28. There came a man to Jesus Christ and asked him this question Master what shall I do to inherit eternal Life And whether doth Christ send him for direction To the Scriptures He said unto him What is written in the Law How readest thou Whereupon the man tells Christ what he had found written and what he had read in the Law And he answering said Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind and thy Neighbour as thy self To which Christ gives him this answer And he said unto him Thou hast answered right this do and thou shalt live Whence we may infer That reading the Scriptures and practising what we read will guide us into the right way that leads to everlasting life When the Rich Man who was tormented in Hell pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus to his Brethren to preach to them that they might not come into that place of torment what answer did Abraham give him Did he tell them They had a Light in them if they did follow that it would lead them to Repentance and Salvation No he refers them to the Scriptures Luc. 16.29 Abraham saith unto him They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them He doth not mean they had Moses and the Prophets alive and conversing amongst them in their own persons but they had the Writings of Moses and the Prophets and they were to attend to them and adds moreover If the Scriptures that were written by Moses and the Prophets would not lead them to Repentance the coming of one from the dead would not work upon them verse 31. If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead 5. The danger of neglecting the Scriptures and following our own Light without looking to and regulating our apprehensions by the word of God may be further evidenced from the fallible nature of our understandings We are all of us since the fall of Adam subject to many and great mistakes insomuch that ' David cried out Psal 19.12 Who can understand his Errours We are subject to such great mistakes that a man that walks as he thinks according to his Light may commit hainous sins when he is pesrwaded in his mind that he doth nothing but what he is bound in conscience to do When the Apostle Paul persecuted the Members of Christ he did not do it from malice or to please the Jews or to get preferment but he followed his Light he thought verily that it was his duty to oppose the ways and Members of Christ Acts 26.9 I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth A man may be so far mistaken as that he may think he doth God good service when he is committing abominable sins It is an abominable sin to kill the servants of Jesus Christ yet
spiritual state What questions we should put to them page 155 to 159. 15. We must apply our Instructions sutable to the state and condition of our Families page 159. How to deal with the unconverted in order to their Conversion page 159 to 161. What we are to do when we find our Children or Servants profiting by the Instructions we give them page 161 to 164. How to deal with such as get no good by our Instructions page 164 165. How to deal with such as rest in a form of godliness page 165 166. How to deal with such as are in a declining condition page 166 167. 16. We must be diligent in instructing our Families Six Arguments for diligence in this work page 167 to 170. 17. We must teach and watch over every member of our Families Arguments to perswade us hereunto page 170 to 173. 18. Our Families must be kept from strife and preserved in love and peace page 173 174. What we should do to prevent discord and contention and to preserve love and peace in our Families page 174 to 177. 19. We must joyn Prayer with Family Instruction The necessity of Prayer for assistance and success in this work page 177 to 182. The case of such as have prayed long for their childrens Conversion and see no answer of their Prayers page 182 to 186. 20. We must act faith for the Conversion and Salvation of such as are under our charge page 186. Several promises to encourage us to trust in God for Family mercies and Family blessings page 187 to 190. The case of such as are discouraged from acting Faith upon the Promise because they see no fruit of their faith or labors page 190 196. 21. We must walk exemplarily in our Families page 196 197. 22. Family Instruction must be continued as long as we live page 197 to 200. Chap. 4. Objections against Family Instruction answered page 200 to 304. 1. Plea Want of gifts and abilities for this work Ans in 17 particulars page 200 to 207. How we may get our gifts and abilities encreased page 206 207. 2. The plea of such as cannot read answered page 207 to 209. 3. The plea of such as neglect Family Instruction because they have difordered Families answered page 209 210. 4. The plea of such whose Children and Servants are dull answered page 210 to 215. How to deal with such as are dull and have weak memories page 212 to 215. How to help the infirmities of our Understandings and Memories page 214 215. 5. The plea of such as neglect Family Instruction because their Children or Servants are hard hearted and rebellious Answ page 215 to 219. 6. The plea of such as say their Children are too young to be instructed Answered page 219 to 223. 7. The plea of such as say their Families are all such knowing persons as that they need no Instruction page 223 to 226. 8. The plea of such as say their Families are so small that it is not worth their time and pains to instruct them answered page 226 to 229. 9. The plea of such as neglect Family Instruction because their Families are great and numerous answered page 229 to 231. 10. The plea of such as say 't is beneath them to instruct their Children or Servants because they are great men Answ page 231 to 233. 11. The plea of such as say they have no spare time to instruct their Families because they are poor or have much business or are often abroad Answered page 233 to 240. 12. The plea of such as are afraid they should wrest the Scriptures Answered page 240 to 242. What means we should use to come to the right understanding of the Scriptures and to be kept from wresting them page 242 to 246. 13. The plea of such as neglect Family Instruction because they find their hearts in a dry unsavoury frame Answ. page 246 to 250. How we may come to taste the sirectness that is in Gods Word page 246. to 248. 14. The plea of such as say 'T is the Ministers work to instruct their Children Answ page 250 15. The plea of such as say Family Instruction would make every man turn Preacher and bring the ministry into contempt page 251 to 254. 16. The plea of such as neglect Family Instruction because they think it is sufficient for every man to follow the light that is within him page 254 to 270 17. The plea of such as neglect Family Instruction because it is promised in the times of the Gospel that we shall all know the Lord Answered page 270 to 273. The Promises of our being taught of God do not make void Family Instruction or ministerial teaching page 272 273. 18. The plea of such as say many Children and Servants are never a whit the better for being instructed page 273 to 275. 19. The plea of such as neglect Family Instruction for fear of aggravating their Childrens condemnation Answered page 275 to 277. 20. The plea of such as say it will spread and multiply Errors for illiterate men to instruct their Families page 277. to 281. What we should do that we may be kept from corrupting and perverting the Word of God when we instruct our Families page 278 to 281. 21. The plea of those who think they do enough because they read the Scriptures in their Families and hear their Children and Servants read also page 281 to 286. 22. The plea of such as say They may teach their Families to know and remember the Word but they cannot teach them obedience and knowledge without obedience will do them no good page 286. Instructing Children while they are young makes eminent Saints page 287. 288. 23. The plea of such as neglect Family Instruction because their Servants are Fainted wick erroneous Principles page 288 to 290. 24. The plea of such as neglect Family Instruction lest they should be counted singular and be repreached page 290 291 292. They that neglect Family Instruction are worse then Infidels and Idolaters page 290. 291. 25. The plea of such as say Their Families refuse to submit unto Instruction What is to be done in this case page 292 to 296. 26. The plea of such as give over Family Instruction because they can see no success of their labours page 296 to 304. What they should do who find no success in their labours in teaching their Families page 296 297. Encouragements to persist in Family Instruction although we see no suceess of our labours page 299 to 304. Chap. 5. Considerations to quiet Parents whose Children died in such an estate as they can have no hope of their Salvation page 304. to 336. 1. Consider Gods Soveraignty page 306 to 308. 2. Other as good and better then we have met with the same tryal page 308 to 310. 3. Gods right and interest in our Children is greater than ours page 310. 311. 4. God is just and righteous true and faithful in all his ways page 311. 312. 313. 5. God shall have eternal
this charge Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children is given to the same persons that are commanded to love God with all their hearts vers 5. and to the same persons that are enjoyned to treasure up Gods word in their hearts vers 6. So that every one that is obliged to love God and to lay up Gods word in his heart is obliged also if he be one unto whom God hath given Children to teach Gods word unto his Children 3. Take notice what is meant by teaching Gods word unto our Children It implies 1. That we should train them up in the knowledge of the Scriptures To teach is to convey knowledge and understanding Psal 119.66 Teach me good judgement and knowledge and to this effect the Persian Translation renders these words Expones ea filiis tuis Thou shalt expound them unto thy Children thou shalt cause them to understand the sense and meaning of my word 2. To teach our Children the Scriptures is to train them up in the obedience and practice of those things which the Lord requireth of us in his holy word There is a teaching to do as well as to know the will of God Psal 143.10 Teach me to do thy will Matr. 28.20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you 2 Chron. 6.27 Thou hast taught them the good way wherein they should walk 4. Observe in what manner and when we are to teach Gods word unto our Children this work must not be done in a slight superficial manner but with all diligence Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children And as for the times and seasons when we are to teach them Moses intimates that it must not be seldom but this work must be done frequently we should embrace all convenient seasons to be dropping some portion of Gods word into them Thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up 5. We have the persons described whom we are to instruct out of the word of God and they are our Children Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children Now under the name of Children are comprehended our Servants and all others in the Family that need instruction as shall be shewed more fully afterwards Another Scripture wherein God commands us to teach his word unto our Children we have in the Psalms of David Psal 78.5 6 7. He established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our fathers that they should make them known unto their Children that the Generation to come might know them even the Children which should be born who should arise and declare them to their Children that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his Commandments Here we may observe 1. What it is which Parents are to teach and make known unto their Children The Law and the Testimony that is the holy Scriptures which are often called by this name the Law and the Testimony as we may see Psal 19.7 Isa 8.16 20. 2. We have a strict Command and a solemn Injunction from God given unto Parents to make known the Law and the Testimony unto their Children He commanded our Fathers that they should make them known unto their Children 3. We may take notice that this practice of Parents teaching Gods Laws unto their Children should be continued from one Generation to another unto the end of the world That the Generation to come might know them even the Children which should be born who should arise and declare unto their Children 4. Here are three things hinted that Parents should aim at in making known Gods word unto their Children 1. The bringing their Children to believe and hope in God That they might set their hope in God 2. The fixing and imprinting in their memories the word and the works of God And not forget the works of God 3. The training of them up in the practise and obedience of Gods Commandments But keep his Commandments The Psalmist shews in the eighth verse what the want or neglect of Parents making known Gods Laws to their Children produceth Children prove stubborn and rebellious or if they make a profession of Religion they soon discover their hearts are not right with God And might not be as their Fathers a stubborn and rebellious Generation a Generation that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God Besides these Scriptures already mentioned I might produce several others where God commands Parents to make known his word unto their Children as Isa 38.19 The Father to the Children shall make known thy Truth By Gods truth which Fathers are here enjoyned to make known unto their Children we may understand his word for his word is called his Truth John 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth See also Deut. 4.8 9 10. What Nation is there so great that hath Statutes and Judgements so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day Only take heed to thy self and keep thy Soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen and lest they depart from thine heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sons and thy sons sons specially the day when thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb when the Lord said unto me Gather the People together and I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the Earth and that they may teach their Children Here we may observe 1. That Gods word was given to the Jews for this very end that they might be brought to fear the Lord and that they might teach his word unto their Children I will make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me and that they may teach their Children 2. The Lord chargeth them very strictly to teach their Children his works which they had seen but more specially his word which he delivered to them in Horeb Only take heed to thy self and keep thy soul diligently teach them thy sons and thy sons sons To these places which I have cited out of the old Testament I will adde one out of the New wherein God chargeth Parents to train up their Children in the knowledge and obedience of his holy word Ephes 6.4 And ye Fathers provoke not your Children but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord The Apostle doth not say And ye Ministers as limiting this work to them but And ye Fathers implying that it is the will of God that all Parents should bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But some may say What is meant by the nurture and admonition of the Lord The Greek words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rendred Instruction 2 Tim. 3.16 and the instruction the Apostle speaks of there is
instruction in righteousness such instructions as are drawn out of the Scriptures to instruct and direct us how to lead a righteous and holy life It is sometimes also used for correction Heb. 12.5 My son despise not the chastening of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies such a teaching as fixeth in the mind and fasteneth upon the heart those instructions which are useful to inform the judgment and reform the life To this effect Zanchy interprets this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Significat admonitionem non simpliciter sed talem quâ in mentem pueri ponas ingeras quae sunt illi ad salutem necessaria And Camerarius Significat efficacem admonitionem quâ aliquis ad meliorem mentem revocatur The Apostle adds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shew that those instructions and admonitions which we give our Children must not be what our own hearts or our own wisdom prompts us to but they must be drawn out of the word of the Lord. The Ethiopick Translation renders the words thus Enutrite erudite in Doctrina Dei bring them up and instruct them in the Doctrine of God The Doctrine of God is an Epithet given the Gospel Tit. 2.10 When therefore the Apostle exhorts Parents to bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord the sense and meaning of those words is to this effect That they should labour by instruction correction and dayly admonitions to train up their Children in the knowledge faith and obedience of the Word of God and thus the generality of Expositors interpret this place As Beza Monitis ex verbo Dei petitis Draw the Counsel and Admonitions which you give your Children out of the word of God And Vatablus Date eis vivendi modum secundum doctrinam monita Christi Give them Rules and Directions how to order their Lives according to the Doctrine and Commandments of Christ Zanch. Vt pueri instituantur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est in verâ Dei cegnitione verâ Pietate veraque religione doctrinam coelestem in liberorum animos semper instillando To bring up our Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is to bring them up in the true knowledge of God true Piety and the true Religion by a continual instilling heavenly Doctrine that is the word of God into our Childrens minds And Piscator Erudiant instituant in Doctrina Christiana Let them bring them up and instruct them in the Doctrine of Christ Corn. Lapid Vos O Patres educate illos in Doctrina Christi date eis Christiana monita quibus bene Christiane vivendi modum addiscant Do you O Fathers educate your Children in the Doctrine of Christ give them Christian counsel that they may learn to live well and as becometh Christians Our English Annotations explain those words In the admonition of the Lord thus Such Admonitions Instructions and Precepts as are taken out of the word of God and are acceptable to him I might mention Theodoret Chrysostom who discourseth very largely on this place about the education of Children in the knowledge of the Scriptures and divers others who give the same sence of this Text but I suppose it needless to adde any more VVhat is implied in those words Bring up your Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord may be gathered by comparing this place with 1 Tim. 4.6 where the same Apostle speaking of Timothy saith He was nourished up in the words of Faith and good Doctrine And what those words of Faith and good Doctrine were in which Timothy was nourished up we may learn from 1 Tim. 6.3 Even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness So that to bring up our Children in the nurture and admontion of the Lord is to nourish them up from their Childhood in the knowledge of the word of the Lord and especially to instill such portions of the Gospel into their minds as may breed in their hearts faith in Jesus Christ and may bring them to lead godly and holy Lives SECT 2. Servants as well as Children are to be instructed IT may be some will say These Scriptures which you have produced speak fully of teaching Gods word unto our Children but here is nothing spoken of instructing our Servants How doth it appear that we are to teach Gods word unto our Servants as well as unto our Children I answer 1. In Deut. 6.7 8. Where the Lord commands us to lay up his words in our hearts and to teach them diligently unto our Children there is added Thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and vers 9. Thou shalt write them upon the posts of thine house and on thy gates which Precepts imply thus much That it is our duty not only to teach our Children but that we are also bound to instruct all that go out and all that come in at our doors even our whole houshold in the knowledge of the word of God 2. In those fore-quoted Scriptures wherein the Lord commandeth us to teach his word unto our Children we are commanded to teach our Servants also for our Servants are comprehended in this word Children This will be made evident by considering how the word Children is used in other places and the use of the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is usual with the Scripture to call those persons whom we either do or by our duty are obliged to instruct our Children 1 John 2.1 My little Children these things I write unto you that ye sin not 2 Cor. 6.13 I speak as unto my Children Psal 34.11 Come ye Children hearken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. The People of a Nation that are united under one form of Government are called the Children of that Nation Thus we read of the Children of Israel and the Children of Judah 2 Chron. 13.18 The Children of Israel were brought under at that time and the Children of Judah prevailed because they relied upon the Lord God of their Fathers The Children of Israel signifie the ten Tribes that were under Jeroboam's Government and the Children of Judah the two Tribes that were under the Government of the house of David Now if all the People that belong to one Nation are called the Children of that Nation why may not all the members of a Family be called the Children of that Family 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the Hebrew word that is used for Children Deut. 6.7 is translated by the Septuagint Zeph. 1.8 Amos 3.1 and in many other places by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth an House or a Family And younger persons are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Prov. 7.7 I discerned among the youths where the Hebrew word translated youths is the same with that which is rendred Children Deut. 6.7 It is also of
should instruct them how to follow their Calling and how to speak and walk and to order their conversations aright in all things we should shew them the path of Life and guide them therein that they may obtain eternal salvation in the world to come 4. God teacheth his children and servants out of his holy Word Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law The Lord builds up all his houshold in knowledge faith and holiness upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles that is the Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures by the Prophets and Apostles Ephes 2.19 20. Ye are of the Houshold of God and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone He instructs penitent persons by making known his word to them Prov. 1.23 Turn you at my Reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you David describes Gods teaching his people Israel thus Psal 147.19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel In like manner when we teach our children and servants we should teach them out of the word of God and establish them in the knowledge belief and practice of the Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures by the Prophets and Apostles 5. The Lord condescends to teach such as are of a froward and perverse disposition The Children of Israel were a perverse generation Deut. 32.5 They are a perverse and crooked generation yet the Lord taught and instructed Israel Vers 10. He found him in a desart Land and in the waste howling Wilderness he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the apple of his eye And this he did notwithstanding they were a very froward people as Moses tells us again vers 20. They are a very froward Generation In like manner though our Children or Servants should be of a froward perverse spirit yet we should not forbear instructing them 6. The Lord imprints and fastens in the minds and hearts of his Children and Servants those Instructions which he giveth them hence he is said to seal their instruction Job 33.14 He openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruction So should we endeavour to imprint those Instructions which we give our Families upon their minds that they may retain them in their memories as long as they live SECT 7. Mothers as well as Fathers must instruct their Children Quest IT may be some will here demand Is it not the Duty of Mothers as well as of Fathers to teach their Children Answ Although the Scripture doth forbid Women teaching in publick Assemblies 1 Cor. 14.34 Let your women keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the Law 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence Yet it doth allow them to teach their Children and Servants and though this work doth lie chiefly upon Fathers to teach Gods word unto their Children as appeareth by the special charge that is given to them Ephes 6.4 Isa 38.19 Psal 78.5 yet it is the duty of Mothers also to instruct and watch over their Children and Servants For the proving hereof and the stirring up of Mothers to joyn with and to be helpful to their Husbands in instructing their Children and Servants I shall propose to them these following Considerations 1. It hath been the practice of godly women in former times to instruct their Children in the knowledge of the Scriptures which the holy Ghost hath left upon record as a monument of their praise as long as the world shall continue and as a Pattern to be followed by all women that fear God Solomons mother though she was a Queen did not look upon it as a work beneath her to instruct her Son but taught him a Prophecy containing excellent Lessons concerning Chastity and Temperance defending the Oppressed c. Prov. 31.1 The words of King Lemuel the Prophecy which his mother taught him What this Prophecy was that his mother taught him is set down in the following verses Solomon was instructed by his Father Prov. 4.3 4. I was my Fathers Son he taught me also yet Solomon's mother did not think her self excused from teaching her Son because his Father instructed him but she joyn'd with her husband and teacheth him a Prophecy Now if those women who haue godly Husbands that instruct their Families must also instruct their Children how much more is it the duty of those women who have careless and negligent Husbands that regard not their Families to be diligent in teaching their Children and Servants Another example we have in Lois and Eunice Lois being converted to the Christian Religion trains up her Daughter Eunice in the faith of Christ Eunice being instructed in the faith of Christ instructs her Son Timothy 2 Tim. 1.9 2. Children are commanded to hearken to and not forsake the instruction which their Mothers as well as which their Fathers give them out of the Law of God Prov. 1.8 My Son hear the instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother which implies That Mothers as well as Fathers are to teach Gods Laws to their Children 3. It is mentioned as one of the Vertues of a vertuous woman That she looketh well to the ways of her Houshold Prov. 31.27 and this oversight that she takes of the ways of her Houshhold conduceth so much to the good of her Children that it will cause them to bless God for her as long as they live as the next verse implieth Her Children arise up and call her blessed vers 28. And the Apostle Paul adviseth elder women to be Teachers of good things Tit. 2.3 And he tells them both whom they should teach younger women and what Lessons they should teach younger women vers 4.5 which is to be understood of instilling those Principles into their Children and Maid Servants how they should demean themselves when God shall bring them into a married estate and also of instructing their Neighbours and Acquaintance when they visit them and have occasion to confer with them 4. The Mother as well as the Father doth concur to the conveying of a sinful nature unto their Children Psal 51.5 In sin did my Mother conceive me And therefore Mothers ought by their prayers and tears and instructions and the use of all good means to endeavour after the Conversion and Regeneration of their Children as well as their Fathers 5. Children are very apt to follow their Mothers example in so much that it 's become a Proverb As is the Mother so is the Daughter and the truth of this Proverb is such that God himself alloweth of it Ezek. 16.44 Behold every one that useth Proverbs shall use this Proverb
against thee As is the Mother so is the Daughter So that if Mothers live religiously and shew a good example to their Children and instruct them out of Gods word there is great hope that their Children will become Religious also It is remarkable both amongst the good and evil Kings that were in Judah and Israel that the Scripture doth frequently record their Mothers names as for good Kings we may see 1 Kings 22.42 43. 2 Kings 18.2 3. and 22.12 And for evil Kings 2 King 8.26 27. 1 Kings 15.2 3. which sheweth that the Mothers example and carriage amongst her Children hath a great influence upon them to make them either good or evil 6. Mothers have greater opportunities to be instilling good things into their Children than their Fathers for they are oftener with them especially whilst they are young as they are dressing or undressing them or giving them meat or sitting with them at work or walking abroad with them they should be talking with them of the word of God Deut. 6.6 7. And every one is to do good according to the opportunities that God puts into their hands Gal. 6.10 7. Hereby Mothers may do great service for Christ in training up Children for the Lord All the good that such Children shall do in their generation shall redound to the Mothers Comfort and Reward The Apostle mentioneth the bringing up of Children by which is meant bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord amongst the first and chiefest good works which women are able to do in their generation 1 Tim. 5.10 Well reported of for good works if she have brought up Children 8. What service women do for Christ he takes as kindly as he doth what men do for him when there was a woman poured upon his head a Box of pretious Oyntment though the Disciples had indignation yet the Lord Jesus took it well from her and said that this act of the woman should be had in remembrance and be spoken of to her praise as long as the Gospel should be preached in the world Mat. 26.13 Verily I say unto you Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world there also this that this woman hath done shall be told for a memorial of her If you that are Mothers teach Gods word to your Children and labour to bring them up in the knowledge and fear of God the Lord Jesus will take this more kindly from you than he took this box of pretious Oyntment from this woman which anointed his body against his burial And that may be evidenced several ways 1. Christ was more pleased with those that minded his word than with those that were at the cost and trouble to provide for his Body as appears from the case of Mary and Martha Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word but Martha was cumbred with much serving Luk. 10.38 39. Hereupon Martha complains to Christ that her sister had left her to serve alone and desires him to bid Mary to help her but Christ commends Mary's choice and her work who was employed about his word above Martha's who was employed in preparing food for his Body and those that were with him Vers 40 41 42. 2. The Lord Jesus loves your Childrens Souls as well as he loves his own Body he gave his own Body to be crucified to save your Childrens Souls And therefore doubtless it is as acceptable to see you endeavouring to save your Childrens Souls by instructing and teaching them out of his holy Word as it was to have his Body anointed with pretious Ointment 3. The Name of God and Christ is like pretious Ointment Cant. 1.3 Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth Yea it is more precious than any Ointment in the World And when you bring your Children acquainted with the Name of God and Christ by instructing them out of the Word of God you convey that to them which is beyond all the pretious Ointment in the world 4. The Ointment that was poured on Christs Body did bur little if any thing advantage the body of Christ he accepted it not so much for the advantage he had by it as he did for the Faith and Love which the Woman manifested in this work But by instructing your Children out of the Word of God you shall greatly promote the good and welfare of their pretious Souls If the Lord Jesus did so kindly accept the Womans anointing his body with precious Ointment that he recorded her praise in the Gospel and will have the Memorial thereof preserved in all Ages throughout the whole World Then doubt not you that are Mothers that if you instruct your Children in the knowledge of his Word but he will accept this very kindly at your hands and cause this good Work of yours to be had in eternal Remembrance CHAP. II. Motives to stir up Parents and Masters of Families to instruct their Children and Servants in the Knowledge and to train them up in the obedience of the Scriptures IN the former Chapter I have proved it to be the Duty of Parents and Masters of Families to train up their Children and Servants in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures I shall now proceed to lay down some Motives to stir up those that neglect this good work to be diligent constant and conscientious in the performance of their Duty in teaching and instructing their Familier SECT 1. Instructing our Children and Servants out of the Scriptures will be a means of their Conversion Reasons why we should endeavour their Conversion Motive 1 INstructing your Children and Servants out of the word of God will be a powerful and an effectual means to convert and save their souls For The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul Psal 19.7 And The Gospel is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light and Reproofs of instruction are the way of Life Prov. 6.23 Though they be such as walk in sinful and destructive courses by teaching and instructing them out of the Scriptures they may be converted from their sins unto God Psal 5.13 I will teach Transgressors thy ways and Sinners shall be converted unto thee We read of Cornelius that both he himself and all his house were saved by the word wherewith they were instructed by Peter Act. 11.14 Who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved In like manner if Governours of Families did carefully instruct their Families out of the word of God they might in so doing both save themselves and all their house With what diligence with what speed with what alacrity with what a resolved minde to persevere therein under all discouragements should you set upon this work seeing there is hope that hereby you may save your Children and your Servants Souls That this argument may have the greater force to perswade and prevail with you to set your hearts to this work Consider 1. What
salvation SECT 4. Many Benefits accrue to our Children by Instruction Motive 4 BY training up our Children in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures we shall greatly promote their welfare That this is the way to furnish them with wisdom and what Advantages will come to them by being endued with Wisdom hath been shewed already There are many other great Benefits and Advantages will accrue to our Children by being instructed in the Scriptures I will instance in some of them 1. Acquaintance with the Word of God will furnish them with grounds of Consolation whereby they may be able to bear up chearfully and comfort themselves under all the troubles of this present life We know not what troubles our Children may meet with when we are at Rest in our Graves we leave them in a troublesome world where they must expect to meet with variety of afflictions Job 14.1 Man that is born of a Woman is of few Days and full of trouble especially if they walk in the path that leads to life for there is no getting to Heaven but through much tribulation Act. 14.22 We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God And if our Children have not somewhat out of Gods Word to comfort themselves withall under their afflictions they will sink under their sorrows and be in danger to make away themselves Psal 119.92 Vnless thy Law had been my delight I should then have perished in mine affliction But if they be acquainted with the word of God they may from thence be furnished with grounds of Consolation under the greatest troubles that can come upon them in this world Jer. 15.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and the rejoycing of mine heart It was a time of great trouble with the Prophet and he was alone and had none to comfort him as we may see Vers 10 17 18. yet even then when he was a man of contention to the whole earth and sat alone being filled with indignation and looked upon his pain as perpetual and his wound as incurable Gods word was the joy and rejoycing of his heart So David when his heart was ready to break with grief Psal 119.28 My Soul melteth for heaviness found joy and comfort in Gods word Vers 49.50 Remember thy word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope This is my comfort in mine affliction And Vers 143 162. Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me yet thy Commandments are my delight I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoyl 2. Acquaintance with the word of God will keep our Children from taking evil and destructive courses from going in those paths that will bring them to destruction Psal 17.4 Concerning the works of men by the words of thy Lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyers The word of God laid up in their hearts will keep them from associating themselves with evil men and evil women It will so over-awe their hearts that they will not only not run of themselves into evil Company but also shun and avoid them though they use many flattering speeches to entice them to that which is evil Prov. 7.15 My Son keep my words and lay up my Commandments with thee That they may keep thee from the strange woman from the stranger which flattereth with her words See also Prov. 6.23 24. 3. The knowledge of Godsword will keep them from falling into Errors which persons of weak Judgments and not well grounded in the Scriptures are easily drawn into Errors arise from ignorance of the Scriptures Mark 12.24 Do ye not therefore err because ye know not the Scriptures neither the power of God Growing in knowledge is prescribed by the Apostle as a means to prevent persons being led into errors 2 Pet. 3.17 18. We had need be careful to preserve our Children from Errors especially in Fundamental Points of Religion as well as from gross sins For 1. Except they abide in the Doctrine of Christ they can have no enjoyment of God 2 John 9. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son 2. Heresies are manifest works of the flesh as well as Adultery and Murder and such-like sins and will as certainly exclude men from the Kingdom of Heaven as the grossest sins as we may see Gal. 5.19 20 21. 4. If we instruct our Children in the knowledge of Gods word that will guide and direct them how to carry on all their undertakings and how to manage the great Turns and Changes of their Lives and all their other affairs Psal 119.105 Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path And the Lord hath promised to such as converse much with his word and treasure it up in their hearts that his word shall lead and guide them in all their ways and they shall have such plain direction from his word how to order their Affairs as if they heard one talking with them and saying this is the way walk therein Prov. 6.21 22 23. Bind them continually upon thine heart When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou wakest it shall talk with thee For the Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light and Reproofs of Instruction are the way of life Isa 30.21 Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left 5. It will help our Children even whilst they are young to reform their lives Psal 119.9 Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word It will keep them from sinning against God Psal 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee It will cause them to do those things which are right in the sight of God 2 Kings 12.2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the Priest instructed him Now who is there that feareth the Lord that would not most gladly have his Children reform their lives and be kept from sinning against God and do that which is right in the sight of the Lord 6. By leaving our Children instructed in Gods word we shall leave them better than if we were able to leave them thousands of pounds of Silver and Gold For the Law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of Gold and Silver Psal 119.72 7. Godly Parents may have all that they can desire on the behalf of their Children if they do train them up in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures Do we desire that our Children should be brought to know and fear the Lord This may be effected by causing them to treasure up Gods word in their hearts
as Dust and the Gold of Ophir as the stones of the Brooks Job's Family was broken and his Estate all gone yet Eliphaz tells him if he did return himself to God and put away iniquity from his Tabernacles he should be built up and have plenty of Silver It engageth God to become our defence vers 25. Yea the Almighty shall be thy defence and thou shalt have plenty of Silver It breeds delight in God and boldness in prayer vers 26. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty and shalt lift up thy face unto God It causeth us to be successful in prayer vers 27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him and he shall hear thee and thou shalt pay thy Vows It makes a man prosperous in his ways and fills him with Comfort vers 28. Thou shalt also decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee and the Light shall shine upon thy ways It will cause God to shelter us and our Families in time of common calamity vers 29. When men are cast down then thou shalt say There is lifting up and he shall save the humble person Lo thus shall the man and his Family be blessed that returns to the Lord and puts away iniquity far from his Tabernacles And therefore seeing Family-Instruction will produce Family-Reformation as is intimated Vers 22. compared with Vers 23. how should this stir us up to instruct our Families in the word of God Besides these Personal and Family-Advantages Family-Reformation would remove National Judgments and procure National Mercies vers 30. He shall deliver the Island of the Innocent and it is delivered by the pureness of thy hands This as well as the foregoing Verses hath relation to vers 23. to the man that returns to God and puts away iniquity from his Tabernacles In that day wherein the Families of Jerusalem should go apart and mourn for their sins in the same day the Lord promiseth great mercies both spiritual and temporal not only to those Families but to Judah and Jerusasalem Zach. 12. 2. The late Pestilence made sore breaches in many Families it hath cut off in some Families the Root in others the Branches in others both Root and Branches Many Children are become fatherless and Orphans and have no Parents to teach them It hath made many Parents childless and they have now no Children to teach it hath swept away many whole Families And shall not we whose Families were preserved untouched or but gently visited ply this work of Family-Instruction It was one great end why God spared us and our Families that we should train them up in the knowledge of his word Isa 38.13 19. The Grave cannot praise thee Death cannot celebrate thee The Living the Living he shall praise thee as I do this day the Father to the Children shall make known thy truth From which words we may observe these two things 1. That one great end why God gives us Children and why he continueth our Lives with our Children and our Children with us is That we should teach them his word and to this agrees that note which Calvin hath upon this Text Hinc colligenda est utilis monitio hac lege sobolem dari mortalibus ut quisque liberos suos erudiendo pro sua virili propagare ad posteros studeat Dei nomen 2. When Parents have escaped with their Lives from the Pestilence or any other eminent danger they should express their gratitude to God by teaching his Truth to their Children This was Hezekiah's case he had been sick unto death and his sickness was as many think the Pestilence but he was preserved from death hereupon he praiseth God and tells us all living persons that had escaped the Pestilence should do the like and they should not only praise God in words but every Father should express his gratitude to God for preserving him and his from going down to the Grave by teaching Gods word to his Children SECT 13. The Vsefulness and Excellency of the Scriptures should excite us to instruct our Families in the Knowledge of the Scriptures Motive 13 THe Usefulness and Suitableness of the Scriptures for carrying on the work of Family-Instruction may stir us up to train up our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures Whatsoever good thing we desire to teach our Families in order to their welfare in this world or their eternal salvation in the world to come it is contained in the Scriptures Would we train up our Families in the knowledge of the Principles of Religion The Scripture is profitable for Doctrine Would we at any time reprove them for their sins or teach them how to reprove others The Scripture is profitable for Reproof Would we correct and reform any Errors in Judgment or in their Conversations The Word of God is profitable for Correction Would we teach and instruct them how to live righteous and holy Lives The Scripture is profitable for instruction in Righteousness as the Apostle testifies 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for instruction in Righteousness The Scriptures are so framed by the infinite wisdom of God that they give directions for the doing of all good works for the avoiding of all Vices for the resisting of all Temptations the bearing of all Afflictions the instructing all persons of all ages whatever state or condition they are in Are our Children young In the word of God there is milk for Babes 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born Babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby Are they come to some maturity both in respect of their years and their knowledge In the word of God there is meat for strong men Heb. 5.14 Are the Members of our Families dull and backward and sluggish in respect of that which is good Gods word is like a goad to prick and put them forward Are they fickle and inconstant in that which is good Gods word prudently and wisely applied will be like a Nail to fasten and make them stedfast in every good work Eccl. 12.11 The words of the wise are as Goads and as Nails fastened by the Masters of the Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd Are our Children or Servants in an unconverted condition Gods word will be a means to convert them Psal 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul Are they already converted The word of the Lord will build them up Act. 20.32 I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up Are they hard-hearted Gods word will melt and break the most rocky heart upon the face of the earth Jer. 23.29 Is not my word like as a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces Are they in a broken afflicted frame Gods word will heal them Psal 107.20 He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from
their destruction Are they of a sorrowful spirit The word of God will fill them with Joy Psal 19.8 The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart Are they ignorant The word of God will inlighten them Psal 19.8 The Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes In a word whatever is needful and profitable either for our selves or for our Children to be acquainted withal it is revealed in the Scriptures Act. 20.20 I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you Neither we nor our Children need the knowledge of any thing more than the whole Counsel of God concerning our Salvation and this is fully revealed in the word of God Act. 20.27 I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God Whatsoever Christ heard of the Father that he taught his Apostles John 15.15 All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you And all things that Christ taught the Apostles they are written in the Scriptures Acts 1.1 2. The former Treatise have I made O Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up after that he through the holy Ghost had given Commandments unto the Apostles whom he had chosen And therefore the Scriptures are a perfect Rule of Righteousness containing all things that are necessary for any man to know believe or practise in order to his eternal salvation And as the Scriptures are profitable for instruction in respect of the usefulness and suitableness of the matter contained in them so also in regard of the power that is in them to convince the Judgment and to prevail with the Conscience and to bow and bend the will to a compliance with Gods will For they carry the Authority of God with them and work efficaciously upon the stoutest hearts when God accompanies them with his Spirit Act. 18.28 He mightily convinced the Jews and that publickly shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ The Jews were exceedingly prejudiced against Christ they were so far from believing that Jesus was the Christ that they had crucified him as an Impostor and a Deceiver of the People yet Apollos bringing clear Scripture-proof for what he taught the Jews were hereby mightily convinced that Jesus was the Christ The word of God is of a more piercing nature than a sword and carrieth greater power along with it Heb. 4.12 The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart It astonisheth the minds of men and carries out their Souls to believe in and obey the Lord notwithstanding all Oppositions and Discouragements that lie in the way either of Faith or Obedience Elimas the Sorcerer was full of subtilty and mischief and he opposed all he could the word of God which was dispenced by Paul and Barnabas and sought to turn away Sergius Paulus from the Faith but the Word of God had such power upon the Deputy that notwithstanding all the endeavours of Elimas he became obedient to the Faith Acts 13.12 The Deputy when he saw what was done believed being astonished at the Doctrine of the Lord. Of all the Jews none were more opposite to believing in Christ than the Priests for the Priests plotted and contrived Christs death Matt. 26.3 4. They sent Judas and a multitude of People with him to apprehend Christ vers 47. They suborned false witnesses against him vers 59. They held a Counsel after he was apprehended by what means they should put him to death Matth. 27.1 The Priests accused him with great vehemency before Herod Luk. 23.10 They stirred up the multitude to ask Barrabas when Pilate was willing to have released Jesus Matth. 27.20 It was the cry of the multitude that were stirred up by the Priests and the voices of the Priests that prevailed with Pilate to crucifie Christ Luk. 23.23 After the death of Christ the Priests took greatest offence at the Apostles preaching and were the chief Agents in their imprisonment Acts 4.1 And yet notwithstanding all the opposition that was in the Priests against Christ and the Doctrine of the Gospel such was the power of the Word of God that thereby a great number of the Priests were converted to the faith of Christ Act. 6.7 The word of God increased and the number of the Disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly and a great company of the Priests were obedient to the Faith Besides this consider the excellency and weightiness of the matter contained in the Scriptures They reveal to us the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven Gods eternal Counsel concerning our salvation the gracious Covenant God hath made with man They reveal to us Gods Attributes his works of Creation and Providence the great Mystery of our Redemption They shew to us how we may serve glorifie and enjoy God which is mans chiefest happiness They treat of the Torments of Hell and of the unspeakable Joys and Glory of Heaven and shew us how we may avoid the one and get possession of the other In a word they discover to us such excellent things as the eye of man never saw the like neither did ear hear neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive the transcendent worth and dignity of them 1 Cor. 2.9 10. They open such Mysteries as the Angels of Heaven desire and delight to look into them 1 Pet. 1.12 Which things the Angels desire to look into And shall we hide such excellent things as these are from our Children We should resolve with full purpose of heart as the godly Jews of old did concerning those glorious things which their Fathers had told them Psal 78.4 We will not hide them from their Children shewing to the Generations to come the praises of the Lord I might adde further There is nothing revealed in the Scriptures but what is of great and near concernment to us and to our Children and that as long as we and they shall live in this world Deut. 29.29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our Children for ever that we may do all the words of this Law If those things that are treated of in the Scriptures did not belong to us or to our Children we might have some excuse for not teaching them the word of God But what Apologie can we make for our neglect of this Duty seeing they were revealed purposely for us and our Children to be conversant therein as long as we live They are of such near and great concernment to us as that every mans Judgment for his eternal state shall be given at the last day according to what is in the written word John 12.48 He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him the words that I have spoken
the same shall judge him in the last day Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works SECT 14. They deal unjustly with their Families who defraud them of the Instruction that is due to them Motive 14 THe Law of Equity requires that Parents should use their utmost diligence to instill knowledge into their Children and to train them up in a godly sort 1. Because they have been instrumental to convey to them a sinful ignorant nature Psal 51.5 Job 14.4 If one man had hurt another the Law of God delivered by Moses required that he should be at the cost and pains to get him throughly healed Exod. 21.19 He shall pay for the loss of his time and cause him to be throughly healed Seeing Parents are instrumental to convey that sin to their Children which hath given their Souls a deadly wound t is but just and equal that they should be at the cost and take pains to get them healed of their ignorance and do what in them lieth to get their Souls converted to the Lord. 2. It is just and equal that we should teach our Children because God hath taught us his Word for this very end and purpose that we should teach the same unto our Children Deut. 4.10 The Lord said unto me Gather the people together and I will make them hear my words that they may teach their Children 3. Justice requires that we should give to every one that which is due to him He that detains from any one that which is his due when it is required and it is in the power of his hand to render it is an unjust man Now Instruction is due to our Children and Servants for God commands us as we have heard before to instruct them and their necessity calleth aloud upon us to be diligent in teaching and instructing them and therefore we cannot withhold instruction from them without being guilty of injustice And it is a great crime to be guilty of injustice Unjust persons are accounted amongst the chiefest of Sinners And to with-hold from our Children or Servants that which is due to their Souls is greater injustice then to wrong them in their Estates or in those things which are due to to their outward man If then we would fulfill that Precept Col. 4.1 Masters give unto your Servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye have a Master in Heaven And that of the Apostle Rom. 13.7 Render to all their dues And that of Solomon Prov. 3.27 With-hold not good from them to whom it is due when it is in the power of thine hand to do it We must not neglect this good work of teaching and instructing our Children and Servants seeing Instruction is due to them Let thus much suffice by way of motive to stir up Parents and Masters of Families to set upon a diligent performance of this duty of training up their Children and Servants in the Knowledge and Obedience of the Scriptures CHAP. III. Directions for managing of this work of Family-Instruction so as to promote the Conversion Edification and Eternal Salvation of all that are under our Charge I Shall in the next place proceed to some Directions for the successful managing of this work of Family-Instruction and shall shew how we should carry it on so as to promote the Conversion Edification and Eternal Salvation of all such as are under our Charge SECT 1. Such as would instruct their Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures must be diligent in studying the Scriptures Direct 1 IF we would instruct our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures it is necessary that we our selves should be well acquainted with them and that we may come to be well acquainted with the Scriptures we must read them often observe diligently what we read and pray to God to open our understandings that we may understand his holy Word and lay up what he teacheth us in our hearts and meditate in his Law night and day Before the Lord commands us to teach his Word to our Children he prefixeth this Charge That we should lay up his Word in our own hearts Deut. 6.6 7. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children And the Apostle calls upon those whom he would have teach others to let the word of Christ dwell richly in themselves Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another A daily searching of the Scriptures attended with Meditation and Prayer will greatly advantage us in this work of Family-Instruction and that in several respects I will instance in two 1. Hereby we shall be furnished with wisdom and knowledge Psal 119.98 99. Thou through thy Commandments hast made me wiser than mine Enemies for they are ever with me I have more understanding than all my Teachers for thy Testimonies are my meditation And the more we are furnished with Heavenly Wisdom the more dextrous and ready we shall be to win those Souls that are committed to our charge Prov. 11.30 He that winneth Souls is wise 2 Cor. 12.16 Being crafty I caught you with guile And as wisdom will make us dextrous in winning Souls to Christ so also it will conduce much to the inabling of us to edifie and build up such as are brought home to him Col. 1.28 Teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus The Romans who were filled with knowledge were thereby made able to teach and admonish others Rom. 15.14 I my self am perswaded of you my Brethren that ye also are full of Goodness filled with all knowledge able also to admonish one another 2. By searching the Scriptures and meditating on them night and day we shall become successful in this work of Family-Instruction God will make this work prosper in our hands to the Conversion Edification and Salvation of such as he hath committed to our care to be instructed in his holy word For the Lord hath promised that whatsoever that man doth who meditates in his Law it shall prosper Psal 1.1 2 3. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly But his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night And he shall be like a tree planted by the Rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doth shall prosper Ezra who was a ready Scribe in the Law of Moses Ezra 7.6 taught Gods Word to the people of Israel vers 10. And what effect had his teaching It had great power to humble and reform the people Ezra 10.1 12. The people wept very sore
shall be saved In a word whatever Duties have a promise of Salvation annexed to the performance of them instruct them in the nature and stir them up to the practice of those Duties IV. Teach them Seasonable Truths The more suitable and seasonable the Instructions are which you give your Families the more good they will receive from them Prov. 15.23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth and a word spoken in due season how good is it By teaching them seasonable Truths I mean 1. That you should suit your Instructions to their state and condition whether they be in a state of nature or a state of grace under temptations and spiritual trouble or free from it in a sleepy secure condition or in an awakened convinced condition but not converted or if converted consider whether they go forward and walk as becometh the Gospel or whether they decline and walk unsuitable to their profession 2. Caution them against the sins of the times and places where they live or where their lot is like to be cast in time to come and caution them against the sins that their age condition constitution or calling are liable to be assaulted withall Thus the Apostle counsels Timothy who was a young man to flee youthful lusts 2 Tim. 2.22 and cautions him against such sins as he would be incident to in the discharge of his Calling as Partiality 1 Tim. 5.21 Rashness vers 22. c. 3. Have an eye to the various Dispensations of Gods Providence both towards the Nation and your own or other Neighbouring Families and instruct them how to improve such Providences As for instance if the Lord send the Sword or Pestilence or Famine or any other great Judgment upon the Nation teach them what duties God expects from them under such Judgments and what means they should use that they may be hid in the day of the Lords anger and be preserved in time of common calamity Or if God send sickness or death or any other affliction into your own or your Neighbouring Families teach them what use they should make of such afflictions 4. If there arise any errors or any Seducers come into the places where you live caution them against those errors and bid them beware of those Seducers and establish their Judgments in the belief of those Truths which are opposite to those Errors that so they may not be led away by them Suit your Instructions to their Capacities and teach them such things as they are most capable to understand When our LORD JESUS CHRIST instructed the People he had respect unto the Capacities of his Hearers Mark 4.33 With many such Parables spake He the Word unto them as they were able to bear John 16.12 I have yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now The like also we may see in his Apostles 1 Corinth 3.1 2. And I Brethren could not speak unto you as unto Spiritual but as unto Carnal even as unto Babes in Christ I have fed you with Milk and not with Meat For hitherto ye were not able to bear it neither yet are ye now able SECT 3. What manner of Instruction is most edifying What are edifying Duties Direct 3 IF you would convert edifie and save the Souls of such as are under your charge by those Instructions which you give unto them do not only teach them sound and Soul-saving Doctrine but teach them in an edifying manner The manner as well as the matter of Instruction conduceth much to edification Act. 14.1 They SO spake that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed There is an emphasis in the word so which respecteth the manner of their teaching the manner of their teaching was such that it became successful for the converting of great multitudes to the Faith of Christ If any say In what manner should we teach our Families so as to promote their Edification I answer 1. Search out suitable and pertinent Scriptures for proving and explaining those points wherein you purpose to instruct them and digest them into a good method Such a course as this the Preacher took in teaching the people Eccles 12.9 Because the Preacher was wise he still taught the people knowledge yea he gave good heed and sought out and set in order many Proverbs And by his selecting choice portions of Scripture and setting them in order his words became like Goads and Nails that pierced deep and stuck fast in the hearts of his Hearers vers 11. The Word of God aptly and rightly applied hath great force to work upon the Conscience Job 6.25 How forcible are right words 2. Explain the sence and meaning of those Scriptures which you teach your Families if they contain any difficulties that are above their understandings Neh. 8.8 So they read in the Book in the Law of God and gave the sence and caused them to undersand the reading The Lord commanded the Jews not only to train up their Children in the use but to teach them the meaning of his Ordinances Exod. 12.26 27. It shall come to pass when your Children shall say unto you What mean you by this service That ye shall say It is the Sacrifice of the Lords Passover who passed over the Houses c. The plainer you make the Truths which you teach your Families the greater efficacy they will have upon their hearts to produce Faith and Obedience John 16.29 30. Lo now thou speakest plainly and speakest no Proverbs Now are we sure that thou knowest all things By this we believe 3. Teach them that the Scriptures are the word of God and advise them to receive those Counsels Reproofs and Exhortations which you give them out of the Scriptures not as yours but as the Counsels Reproofs and Exhortations of God Exhort them to look upon the Doctrines Precepts Threatnings Promises c. which are contained in the Scriptures to be as truly and really the word of God and to be embraced with the same Faith and ready Obedience as if they heard God speaking the same things with an audible Voice from Heaven This perswasion will make those Instructions which you give them out of the Scriptures to take place and work effectually upon their hearts 1 Thes 2.13 When ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which worketh effectually in them that believe 4. Teach them to make a particular application to their own Souls of those Instructions which you give them out of the Scriptures As the Prophet Malachy made a particular application of what he taught the Priests Mal. 2.1 And now O ye Priests this Commandment is for you So must Parents deal with their Children O my Children this Commandment of keeping holy the Sabbath day of loving God with all your heart and your Neighbour as your self c. is for you And this Threatning If you
live after the flesh you shall die the Companion of Fools shall be destroyed c. is for you you shall die as well as any persons in the world if ye live after the flesh and if ye will keep evil company c. And this promise is for you They that seek the Lord shall want no good thing c. If you will seek the Lord he will give you all good things And the example of Gods Judgments on such as murmured and such as committed fornication c. was written for your admonition to deter you from committing those sins 1 Cor. 10.8 10 11. When Eliphaz had been instructing Job in several things concerning the misery of wicked men the nature of afflictions the blessings that God bestoweth on godly men c. he concludes his discourse thus Job 5.27 Lo this we have searched it so it is hear it and know it for thy good or as it is in the Margin for thy self From the different rendring of the last clause of this Verse we may draw this note That then a man knows Divine Truths for his good when he knows them for himself that is the way for a man to get good by the knowledge of Divine Truths is to make a particular application of them to his own Soul 5. When you instruct them in the performance of any duty either towards God or their Neighbour teach them how and in what manner to perform that duty shew them also the necessity of it and the advantages and benefits that will come to them if they follow your counsel and the evils that will befall them if they neglect it Thus David instructed Solomon he exhorts him to know and serve the Lord 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him Then he shews him in what manner he must serve the Lord willingly and sincerely Serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind He tells him why it was necessary that he should serve the Lord with a perfect heart and with a willing mind For the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts He acquaints him also with the benefit that he should receive if he would seek and serve the Lord If thou seek him he will be found of thee and with the evils that would come upon him if he forsook the Lord But if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever It is said of Solomon Eccles 12.10 The Preacher sought out acceptable words or as some render it verba desiderii words that might stir up desires after those things which he taught the people words that might win and gain upon their affections Follow Solomon's example in teaching your Children seek out such Scriptures as may put an edge upon their affections and inflame them with a desire to practise those things which you teach them to be their duty Consider also what may dicourage or hinder them from the performing those Duties which you press upon them and endeavour to remove those hindrances for what the Apostle saith in another case 2 Thes 2.7 the same is true here That which now letteth will let until it be taken out of the way 6. So teach them their duty as also to direct them where they may have strength to perform it And to that end guide them to Christ without whom they can do nothing John 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing and by whose help they shall be able to do all things Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthneth me By which means when they find no strength in themselves they shall be able to say they have it in Christ Surely shall one say In the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength Isa 45.24 And seeing Christ conveys his strength to us in a way of Reliance upon him for it is through faith that out of weakness we are made strong Heb. 11.34 and seeing faith is helped much by the promises when you instruct them in their duty guide them to some promise of the Covenant of Grace where God hath promised to inable them to perform that duty that so by the help of the promises they may trust in Christ to work all their works in them and for them and may through faith in him receive strength to walk before God in newness of Life Thus when the Apostle taught the Romans that they should not let sin have dominion over them Rom. 6.12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal Bodies that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof He presently puts them in mind of a promise wherein the Lord hath promised so to over-rule us by his grace that sin shall not have the Dominion over us vers 14. Sin shall not have the Dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 7. If you would so instruct your Families as to edifie them in your Teaching then stir them up to the practise of those Duties which make for their edification As First To walk in the fear of the Lord Act. 9.31 The Churches were edified walking in the fear of the Lord. Secondly To live in love and peace 1 Cor. 8.1 Charity edifieth Ephes 4.16 Maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of it self in love Rom. 14.19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith we may edifie one another Thirdly To get Faith and to live by Faith after they have gotten it 1 Tim. 1.4 Godly edifying which is in faith Fourthly To pray in a fervent gracious spiritual manner Jude 20. But ye Beloved building up your selves in your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost Fifthly To meditate often on what you have taught them 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear unto all SECT 4. What are the fittest times and seasons for instructing our Families Direct 4 THe seasonableness of a work makes it amiable Eccles 3.1 11. To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven He hath made every thing beautiful in his time The seasonableness of a work renders it also the more successful Psal 1.3 He shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of waters that bringeth forth his fruit in his season and whatsoever he doth shall prosper Such as are Rulers of Families must not only provide meat for their Families but meat in due season and by so doing he that is the supreme Lord of all Families shall give them his blessing Matth. 24.45 46 47. Who then is a faithful and wise Servant whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold to give them meat in due season Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Verily I say unto you That he shall make him Ruler over all his goods Now concerning the times and seasons that you should take for the doing this work
thine heart and tie them about thy neck when thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou awakest it shall talk with thee 6. The abiding of Gods word in our hearts and memories will help our perseverance 1 John 2.24 If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Father and in the Son The way to abide in Christ is to let his word abide in us John 15.7 If ye abide in me and my words abide in you 7. It will help forward our salvation to keep in memory the word of God 1 Cor. 15.2 By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you It is not only useful to such as are in a state of Grace to treasure up Gods word in their memories but also to the Unconverted for it may be a means of their Conversion and turning unto God Psal 22.27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord Seeing therefore it is so advantagious for all sorts of persons to have Gods Word treasured up in their memories cause both your Servants and Children to commit to and keep in memory what you teach them out of the Scriptures and to that purpose cause them often to reherse those Scriptures wherein they have been instructed The Hebrew word which we translate teach diligently Deut. 6.7 Thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children signifieth also to repeat often one and the same thing to inculcate it again and again with much diligence And let not the rehearsing of the same Scriptures by and to the members of your Family be irksome and tedious to you seeing it will prove beneficial to them For what the Apostle faith of writing the same things to the same persons viz. to the Church at Philippi Phil. 3.1 To write the same things to you to me indeed is not grievous but for you it is safe The same I may say of repeating the same things in our Families it should not be grievous to you seeing it is safe for them SECT 6. The necessity of watching over our Families Direct 6 WAtch over your Families and see whether they live according to those Instructions which you give them out of the Word of God Solomon speaking of a vertuous Woman saith of her Prov. 31.27 She looketh well to the ways of her houshold A Governour of a Family must not only instruct his Houshold but look yea look well to the ways of his Houshold that he may see that none of them live in any vice or in the neglect of their duty to God or their Neighbour We read of a man which sowed good seed in his field but while men slept the Enemy came and sowed Tares among the Wheat Matth. 13.24 25. Though we sow the good Seed of the word in our Families yet if we sleep when we have done that is if we be secure and careless and do not watch over them the Enemy will come and endeavour to sow Tares either the Tares of Error or the Tares of Strife and Dissention or some other evils To quicken you to this duty of watching over your Families consider 1. How prone mans nature is unto that which is evil our proneness to sin is so great that they which have had good and wholesome Instructions given to them are very apt to turn aside and go astray if they be left but a little to themselves A remarkable instance of this we have in the Children of Israel who upon Moses his absence by the space only of forty days fell into the sin of Idolatry and made a golden Calf and worshipped the same for the God that brought them out of the Land of Egypt Exod. 32.1 to vers 9. And yet Israel had received many good instructions from Moses yea they had heard God himself speaking to them from Mount Sinai and delivering his Law to them wherein he had expresly charged them not to make to themselves any graven image c. And to beget the greater Reverence of his Law there were such Thundrings and Lightnings and such dreadful fire as that Moses and all the people quaked and trembled with fear And notwithstanding this solemn delivery of the Law of God they quickly fell into this fearful sin of Idolatry Exod. 32.8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them It was not above six weeks as some compute the time after the delivery of the Law that they made this Calf not above six months after they came out of Egypt as Rivet observes This sin of theirs was the more to be wondered at because they had seen the mighty works of God upon the Egyptians whose gods could not deliver them out of the Lords hand they had also seen his wonders at the red Sea besides they bad in a solemn manner promised obedience to all the Commands of God Exod. 24.3 All the people answered with one voice and said All the words which the Lord hath said will we do And yet after all the Instructions and all the Ingagements that lay upon them to obey the Lord they quickly fell into that foul sin of Idolatry 2. Consider what a mighty charge you have to look after It is beyond Silver or Gold or precious Stones you have the Souls of your Families committed to your charge you have such a charge of them as that you must give an account to God for them Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the Ruleover you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account SECT 7. The Vsefulness of Reproof and Directions about giving Reproof Direct 7 WHen your Children or Servants do any thing contrary to the Instructions you have given them out of the Word of God Rebuke and Reprove them Reproofs grounded upon the Word of God and wisely administred will be a great furtherance of their Souls salvation as you may see Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light and Reproofs of Instruction are the way of Life The sence of which is this the Law of God gives us Light and Direction how to order our Conversations aright and when persons are instructed out of this Law and reproved when they go astray from it this is the way to save their Souls Although some persons in your Families should be addicted to lying and other hainous sins and have been habituated to them for a long season yet you may hope by instructing and reproving them according to the Rules of Gods Word that you shall reclaim them from their Vices and make them sound and sincere Christians The Cretians were notorious Lyars and so given to sensuality that they seemed more like Beasts than Men slothful persons that minded little else but their Bellies yet the Apostle would not have Titus despair of reforming them and making these Cretians sound and good Christians And what course doth he direct
Titus unto whereby he might hope to effect this but to instruct them in the faith of Christ and rebuke them sharply Tit. 1.12 13. The Cretians are always Lyars evil Beasts slow Bellies This witness is true wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith If you ask How shall we manage this duty of Reproof so as to reform those persons whom we reprove I answer 1. Reprove not but upon just cause and let that cause be for something you know and can prove to be a sin against God Thus God deals with us when he rebukes us 't is for sin Psal 39.11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity John 16.8 When he is come he will reprove the world of sin If we commit sin though it be secretly God will not let it pass without a reproof Job 13.10 He will surely reprove you if you do secretly accept persons If your Children or Servants be guilty of lying swearing back-biting or any other sin by no means forbear to rebuke them for their sins Lev. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer sin upon him You must also know and be sure that the person whom you reprove is guilty of that sin for which you reprove him And therefore you must not reprove upon every slight and groundless report Isa 11.3 He shall not reprove after the hearing of the Ears But you must inquire whether the thing that you hear be certain and whether it be altogether so bad as is reported God teacheth us this by his own example Gen. 18.20 21. And the Lord said Because the Cry of Sodom and Gomerrah is great and because their sin is very grievous I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the Cry of it which is come unto me and if not I will know And he gives us a charge to be very wary how we proceed in judging others till we have made full and certain enquiry into the matter of Fact Deut. 13.12 14. If thou shalt hear say in one of thy Cities Then thou shalt inquire and make search and ask diligently and behold if it be truth and the thing certain that such abomination is wrought among you 2. The Lord doth not always chide as the Psalmist tells us Psal 103.9 He will not always chide but takes his set times for rebuking of us such as he in his wisdom judgeth most meet Exod. 32.34 In like manner we must not be always chiding our Children and Servants lest we either break or sink their spirits or else make them careless or regardless of our reproofs but it will be our prudence when we meet with that which provoketh us to anger and deserveth reproof to defer it to a convenient season and when we reprove to do it effectually and to purpose Prov. 19.11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger 3. When you reprove your Servants or Children instruct and shew them the evil of those things for which you reprove them And put them in remembrance of some Scripture that doth set out most fully and convincingly the evil and danger of that sin for which you reprove them And if they have no such Scriptures in their remembrance it will be good to cause them to take their Bibles and turn to such Scriptures as are most pertinent to fasten upon their hearts that word of reproof which you shall give them The Apostle exhorts Timothy to joyn Doctrine with Reproof 2 Tim. 4.2 Reprove Rebuke with Doctrine When Christ reproved the Saduces for holding there was no Resurrection of the Dead he proves to them out of the Scriptures that they were in a great Error Matth. 22.29 31 32. Divers instances we have of the like nature in his reproving the Scribes and Pharisees wherein he joyns the quotation of the Scriptures with his Reproofs 4. If you see no fruit no amendment produced by those Reproofs which you give your Family you must not sit down discouraged but reprove again and again and exercise much patience and long-suffering in the performance of this duty 2 Tim. 4.2 Reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine What God said to Moses Exod. 4.8 And it shall come to pass if they will not believe thee neither hearken to the voice of the first sign that they will believe the voice of the latter sign The like may I say here If they turn not at the first Reproof it may be they will at the second if not at the second it may be the third will prevail but if it should not you must not cease to do your duty though God should deny success but must be often dealing with them and set before them the great danger of going on in sin after they have been often reproved concerning which we meet with many awakening passages in Scripture as Prov. 29.1 He that being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy Prov. 15.10 He that hateth reproof shall die See also Prov. 1.25 to verse 33. Heb. 6.7 8. Jer. 6.8 5. Do not reprove them in a fury or when you are in a passion For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God Jam. 1.20 We are all ready to pray with David Psal 38.1 O Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath neither chasten me in thy displeasure If we would not have our Lord and Father rebuke us in his wrath shall we rebuke our Children and Servants in our wrath Let this be far from us We should put on a spirit of Meekness when we set upon this work of Reproof Two Considerations may cause us to exercise a spirit of Meekness when we are to deal with Offenders First When we consider what we our selves have been by nature we are as bad as others Tit. 3.2 3. Shewing all meekness unto all men for we our selves also were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another Secondly When we consider what we may be if we fall into temptation Gal. 6.1 Brethren if a man be over-taken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted Our Spirits may be meek and yet our Reproofs may be sharp if either the nature of the Offence or Offender require sharp reprehensions If we would have our Reproofs sharp such as may enter and pierce deep into their hearts the way is not to use bitter Invectives and rayling Expressions but rather 1. To convince them plainly and clearly of their sin for which we reprove them Thus Peter dealt with the Jews he gives them clear and certain demonstrations that that Person whom they had put to death was the promised Messiah and that pricked them to the heart Acts 2.36 37. Let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath
loving to them Love will draw love from the worst of men Luk. 6.32 Sinners also love those that love them Shew your love to them by speaking kindly to them and by seeking their welfare Hereby Mordecai got the love of the Jews Esth 10.3 Mordecai the Jew was accepted of the multitude of his Brethren seeking the wealth of his people and speaking peace to all his seed Secondly Be kind to them as you see occasion give them some gifts to encourage them to learn those things that are for their good this will win much upon their affections Prov. 19.6 Every man is a friend to him that giveth Gifts Thirdly Give ear to their just Complaints and be willing to redress their grievances Job was ready to hear the cause and complaint of the meanest Servant in his family even when and wherein he himself was concerned Job 31.13 14. If I did despise the cause of my man Servant or of my maid Servant when they contended with me what then shall I do when God riseth up And when he visiteth what shall I answer him And who was more loved and respected than Job Job 29.8 9 10 11. Absolom by his courteous carriage and kind speeches and by expressing his readiness to redress the grievances of the people stole the hearts of the men of Israel 2 Sam 15.2 3 4 5 6. When the people of Israel came to Rehoboam with a desire to redress their grievances his wise men counselled him to answer their desires for thereby he should engage their affections to him for ever 2 Chron. 10.7 If thou be kind to this people and please them and speak good words unto them they will be thy Servants for ever Fourthly Answer their Requests when they defire those things that are for their good and which may conveniently be granted them As Gods answering our Requests makes us love God Psal 116.1 I love the Lord because he hath heard the voice of my Supplications So our answering those Requests which our Children or Servants make to us will engage them to love us Fifthly Cover their failings and infirmities Prov. 17.9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love or as it is in the Margent procureth love By covering a cransgression is not meant that we should forbear reproving them for Reproof prudently administred will not hinder but increase love Prov. 9.8 Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee But by covering a transgrâ—â—son is meant 1. That we should not twit and upbraid them with their faults and be often repeating them as the manner of some is especially when they are in a passion for this is a great hindrance of love and causeth discord between inward Friends as appears by the following words But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends 2. That we should not divulge or blaze abroad their infirmities but endeavour to conceal them SECT 11. How to ingraft the Word of God in the hearts of our Children and Servants How we may bring them in love with the Word Direct 11 IF you would save the Souls of your Children and Servants by those Instructions which you give them out of the word of God endeavour to ingraft those Truths which you teach them in their hearts for if the Word of God be ingrafted in their hearts it will be a powerful means of saving their Souls Jam. 1.21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your Souls If you say What shall we do that we may get the word of God ingrafted in their hearts I answer First Acquaint them with Gods Covenant wherein he hath promised to engrave or write his word in their hearts Jer. 31.33 I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts And stir them up to plead this Covenant until they find that God according to his promise hath engraven his Law upon their hearts Secondly Cause them to understand those Scriptures which you teach them and to that end when there is any difficulty therein explain them and labour to beget in them a clear and right understanding of the word of God When the understanding is enlightned with the knowledge of Divine Truths there is way made for their entrance into and their abode in the heart Prov. 14.33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding By wisdom we may understand the grace of God Job 28.28 The fear of the Lord that is wisdom Now the grace of God doth not only enter into but resteth and maketh its abode in the heart of him that hath understanding If your Instructions be never so good though they be drawn out of the word of God yet if they be not understood they will not abide in their hearts whom you instruct but will quickly vanish out of their minds Matth. 13.19 When any one heareth the word of the Kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart Thirdly Endeavour to fix the word of God in their memories cause them often to rehearse what you have taught them exhort them to meditate and ponder upon those Instructions they have received from you This will be a means of ingrafting the word of God in their hearts As the remembring of our sins is a means of engraving our iniquities upon our hearts Jer. 17.1 2. The sin of Judah is written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond it is graven upon the Table of their Hearts and upon the Horns of their Altars whilst their Children remember their Altars and their Groves So remembring and pondering upon the Word of God will be a means of graving or writing the Word of God upon our hearts Prov. 3.1 3. My Son forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandments Bind them about thy Neck write them upon the Table of thine Heart The binding of the Commandments about the Neck is the same with not forgetting the Law mentioned vers 1. This binding of the Law about the Neck was used by the Jews as a Memorial to help them to keep the Commandments of God in remembrance Exod. 13.9 Now Solomon joyning these two together Bind them about thy Neck write them upon the Table of thine Heart implies that the binding of the Commandments about our Neck that is the keeping them in remembrance will be a means to write them upon our Hearts Fourthly Inure them to godly Discourse When they are in your presence speak often to them of the word of God and when they are discoursing one with another exhort them to discourse of what you have taught them out of the word of God Discoursing out of the word will be a means of imprinting the Law of God upon their hearts Psal 37.30 31. The mouth of the Righteous speaketh wisdom and his tongue talketh of judgment And what is the fruit and effect of this good discourse
is declared in the next words The Law of his God is in his heart none of his steps shall slide Fifthly Bring them in love with the word of God love to the Word will root and ground the Truths of God in their hearts Ephes 3.17 Rooted and grounded in love Love to the word of God will root it so deeply and firmly in their hearts that no troubles will cause them to depart from the word of God but they will stick and cleave to it unto their dying day Cant. 8.6 7. Love is strong as death many Waters cannot quench Love neither can the Floods drown it If you ask How shall we bring our Children and Servants to love the Word of God I answer 1. Shew them the purity excellency and amiableness that is in the word of God Psal 119.140 Thy Word is very pure therefore thy Servant loveth it 2. Stir them up to practise the word of God that will cause them to love it Psal 119.167 My Soul hath kept thy Testimonies and I love them exceedingly 3. Shew them what a dangerous thing it is not to love the word God is wont to send down sore Judgments upon them that do not receive his Truth in the love of it 2 Thes 2.10.11 12. Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 4. Exhort them to put away and hate their sins and then they will love and delight in the word of God Psal 119.163 I hate and abhor lying but thy Law do I love 5. Counsel them to feed daily upon Gods word by Meditation and Faith for this will cause them to taste the sweetness of it Jer. 5.16 Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of my Heart Psal 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet And when they taste the sweetness of Gods word they will love it above all things in the world Psal 119.103 128. How sweet are thy words unto my taste Yea sweeter than Honey to my month therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold yea above fine Gold SECT 12. How to draw our Families to close with Christ How to ortifie them against the offence of the Cross Direct 12 ENdeavour as much as in you lieth to draw them to JESUS CHRIST that they may receive and close with him upon the terms of the Gospel Whatever Instructions you give your Families if you leave them Christless you leave them in a miserable perishing condition 1 John 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not Life But if you can prevail with them to come to and to close with JESUS CHRIST they shall become the Children of God and shall assuredly obtain everlasting Life John 1.12 As many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name 1 John 5.12 He that hath the Son hath Life John 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me hath everlasting Life If you ask What shall we do that we may draw our Children and Servants to come to and close with JESUS CHRIST I answer First Shew them their miserable lost and undone condition without Christ The misery of Man without Christ is set out by the Apostle Ephes 2.12 That at that time ye were without Christ being Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and Strangers from the Covenants of Promise having no Hope and without God in the world In this Text the misery of such as are without Christ is set forth several ways 1. They are Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel that is they are none of the People of God 2. They are Strangers from the Covenants of Promise that is they have no part or portion in any of the promises either of the first or second Covenant the Covenant of Works or the Covenant of Grace 3. They are without hope They have no hope of mercy either in this world or in the world to come They may have much presumption and much carnal security but they have no hope 4. They are without God that is without the love and favour of God without the grace of God without any communion with and enjoyment of God There is much also said in few words towards the setting forth of the misery of a man that is without Christ in that fore-mentioned Scripture 1 John 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not Life He hath not the Life of Grace here but is dead in his sins he hath not the Life of Glory hereafter but is debarred of all hope of entring into the Kingdom of Heaven for ever The conviction of their misery and perishing condition without Christ will draw them to seek after Christ Luke 15.17 18. I perish with hunger I will arise and go to my Father Mat. 8.25 His Disciples came to him saying Lord save us we perish Inform them also that salvation from their miserable perishing condition is to be had in Christ and no where else but in Christ Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men whereby they may be saved When the people of Israel saw that salvation was to be had in the Lord and no where else this caused them to come to him Jer. 3.22 23. Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills and from the multitude of mountains truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel Secondly Acquaint them with the amiableness and excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ with what benefits they shall receive from him if they embrace him as namely that all their sins shall be pardoned Act. 10.43 and their Souls shall be taken into Covenant with God Isa 55.3 and they shall be blessed with all spiritual blessings Eph. 1.3 and that they shall have all the blessings of Heaven for ever John 3.16 When the Spouse had set forth Christs excellencies that he was the chiefest of ten thousand altogether lovely c. Cant. 5.10 16. They that before saw no beauty or comeliness in him why they should desire him vers 9. What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved c. fell in love with Christ and began to enquire where they might find him and how they might come to enjoy him Chap. 6.1 Whether is thy Beloved gone O thou fairest among women whether is thy beloved turned aside that we may seek him with thee Thirdly Cause them to understand that God is very willing to bestow his Son and Jesus Christ is very willing to bestow himself upon all those that feel their need of him and are willing to receive him as is evident from such Scriptures as
become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat Yet he calls upon these persons whom he confesseth had need of teaching themselves to exhort one another daily Chap. 3.13 Exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Fourthly Though some have more Talents than others yet there is no man without a Talent to trade withal Matth. 25.15 The Apostle telleth us Every man hath his proper gift of God one after this manner and another after that 1 Cor. 7.7 Now suppose your gifts are of the meanest sort you must improve them for the good of your Families That man who had but one Talent because he hid it in a Napkin was cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of Teeth Matth. 25.24 25 28 30. Fifthly If your want of abilities discourage you from this work seek to have your abilities increased it is lawful to covet gifts for the edification of others as well as grace for the good of your own soul 1 Cor. 12.31 Covet earnestly the best gifts 1 Cor. 14.1 Desire spiritual gifts If you ask How you should get your Gifts and Abilities increased I answer 1. Pray to God to endue you with such gifts as may fit you for the work and service of the place and station that he hath set you in Jam. 1.17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights And he which is the Author of every good gift will deny no good thing to them that seek him Psal 34.10 Matth. 7.11 Though you have little or no abilities yet God can put power into those that have no might Isa 40.29 He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength 2. Study the Scriptures and other good Books but the Scriptures above all other Books read them diligently and meditate upon them Hereby you shall be enabled to instruct your Families and be furnished with abilities for every good work 2 Tim. 3.16 17. 3. Imploy those abilities which God hath given you in teaching your Families thereby you shall have them increased Matth. 25.29 Vnto every one that hath that is who improveth what he hath as appeareth from the context shall be given and he shall have abundance 4. Walk in the fear of God by so doing the Lord will increase both the gifts and graces of his Spirit in you Psal 115.13 14. He will bless them that fear the Lord both small and great The Lord shall encrease you more and more you and your Children 5. Look unto Christ who hath received Gifts to bestow upon the sons of men Psal 68.18 The Corinthians were endued with excellent Gifts they were inriched with all utterance and all knowledge so that they came behind other Churches in no gift And how came they to be thus inriched in gifts They had all their gifts from Jesus Christ as you may see 1 Cor. 1.4 5 7. Sixthly Though your gifts be small yet if you be diligent and do the best you can God will accept your work They that offered for the Tabernacle Goats Hair and Rams Skins were accepted as well as they that offered Gold and Silver and precious Stones Exod. 35.5 6 7 8. Such as could not bring a Lamb for a Trespass-offering were permitted to bring two Turtle Doves or two young Pigeons and such as could not do this were allowed to bring the tenth part of an Ephah of fine flower and he that brought the smallest offering was accepted as well as he that brought the greatest if he could bring no better Lev. 5.6 7 11 13. God hath always shewed himself ready to accept of weak service where a man hath a willing mind to do better but wants ability 2 Cor. 8.12 If there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not Seventhly If you say you know not how or in what way to teach your Children and Servants the holy Scriptures you may if you are not provided of a better help make use of the Scriptural Catechism which I have published with this Treatise wherein I have selected such Texts of Scripture as are useful for the grounding of younger persons in the knowledge and belief of the Articles of our Faith and to bring them acquainted with their sinful and miserable condition by nature the necessity of Regeneration the Covenant of Grace the way to obtain peace with God and remission of sins c. and direct and perswade them to embrace a godly life and draw them on to the practise of Repentance the love of God and our Neighbour self-denial contentment c. and to restrain them from lying swearing the love of pleasure idleness uncleanness and such other sins as young persons are apt to be led into and also to prepare them for and comfort them under such afflictions as they are liable unto Which I have endeavoured to digest in such a method and with that subserviency each unto other as may be helpful both to their Understandings and Memories and also work upon their Affections SECT 2. The Plea of such as cannot read answered Object 2 NEither I my self nor any of my Family can read and how then can I instruct them in the Scriptures when neither I nor any in my Family can read the Scriptures Answer First Bewail your sin in neglecting to learn to read your self and in neglecting to cause your Children to learn to read the word of God When St. John saw a Book that no man was able to look into it made him weep much Rev. 5.4 I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book neither to look thereon Ought not you in like manner to weep much because neither you nor any of your Family is able to read in the Book of God Secondly If you cannot read learn to read with all speed and diligence and cause all in your Family to learn also to read the Scriptures Though you be growing old yet it is not too late to begin to learn to read Gods word To stir you up to learn to read and to cause your Children and Servants to learn to read consider 1. It is the Command of God that we should read his word with great diligence John 5.39 Search the Scriptures 1 Tim. 4.13 Give attendance to reading Isa 34.16 Seek out of the Book of the Lord and read 1 Thes 5.27 I charge you by the Lord that this Epistle be read unto all the holy Brethren Now they that cannot read live in the breach of these Commandments and their inability to read will be no excuse to them at the day of Judgment for they might have learnt if they would have taken a little pains herein 2. There is a blessing promised to them that read the word provided that they practice what they read Rev.
1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophecy and keep those things which are written therein 3. It is a sign they have little or no love to or esteem of the word of God who do not learn and teach their Children to read it 4. The want of ability to read is usually accompanied with very gross ignorance of God and the mysteries of salvation Thirdly If you cannot read be swift to hear Gods word and get your Neighbours to read to you and labour to retain in your memories what you have heard others read and teach that to your Families which God helps you to carry away in your memories SECT 3. The Plea of such as neglect Family-Instruction because they have disordered Families answered Object 3 Mr Family is not well inclined my Chil-Children and Servants are rude loose and disorderly If I had a Family as well ordered as some of my Neighbours I should be very willing to teach and instruct them It is the want of good inclinations and good order in my Family that keeps me from setting on this work Answ 1. If your Families are not well inclined but loose and disorderly they have the more need of instruction 1 Thes 5.14 Now we exhort you Brethren warn those that are unruly Though they have no inclinations to that which is good but walk disorderly yet you should not think much to bestow your pains to instruct them Did not Christ take great pains for us in coming from Heaven to seek and save our Souls when we had nothing of good in us but were in a sinful lost perishing condition The Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost Luke 19.10 2. Instruction will be a means to breed good inclinations in your Children and Servants and to convert them from their sinful courses unto the Lord if they be such as live in the transgression of the Commandments of God Psal 51.13 Then will I teach Transgressors thy Ways and Sinners shall be converted unto thee 3. If your Families be disordered and given to any Vice and you do not labour to reform them by instructing reproving and praying for them God will punish both you and your Families for ever them for their sins you for not restraining them 1 Sam. 3.13 I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth because his Sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not SECT 4. The plea of such as have dull Children or Servants answered How to deal with dull Persons and such as have weak Memories Object 4 Mr Children and Servants are so dull and have such weak Memories that I cannot make them understand or remember any thing and this discourageth me from instructing them Answ 1. Dulness of Understanding and weakness of Memory oft-times proceed from the neglect and disuse of those Faculties good Tools will grow rusty and unfit for service if they be not used It was the field of the slothful which Solomon saw all grown over with Thorns and covered with Nettles Prov. 24.30 31. Though a person may have good parts yet if from his youth he neglect to bend his mind to understand the things of God and to get the word of God into his memory he will find his understanding dull in apprehending and his memo-weak in retaining Divine Objects 2. Though your Children and Servants seem to be very dull and simple yet by instructing them out of the word of God they may become very wise and prudent persons Psal 19.7 The Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy word giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple Solomon speaking of the word of God saith It will give subtilty to the simple to the young man knowledge and discretion Prov. 1.4 Though your children be so raw dull and ignorant that they know nothing at all of the things of God yet by instructing them out of the word of God you may bring them to know and fear the Lord Deut. 31.11 13. Thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing that their Children which have not known any thing may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God 3. If your Children and Servants be dull of apprehension and have weak memories this should not cause you to desist from instructing them but you should rather take the more pains with them Eccles 10.10 If the iron be blunt and he do not whet the edge then must he put to the more strength but wisdom is profitable to direct The duller any persons are the more need they have of being taught Heb. 5.11 12. Ye are dull of hearing ye have need that one teach you Though we are guilty of much folly and ignorance and dulness the Lord our God doth not cease from teaching and instructing us but guides and directs us continually Psal 73.22 23 24. So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee nevertheless I am continually with thee thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel If God who is our Master doth not leave off instructing us because of our simplicity and dulness shall we think much to teach our Servants because of their ignorance and dulness 4. If your Children and Servants be dull and have weak memories you must suit your instructions to their capacities and seeing as Solomon observeth that when a man hath to do with blunt tools Wisdom is profitable to direct wisely consider by what ways and means you may so carry on this work of Instruction as may make most for their edification in regard of the dulness of their understandings and weakness of their memories And to this purpose I shall suggest to you these following directions 1. Let the Scriptures which you teach them be plain and easie There are some things in the Scriptures which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hard to be understood 2 Pet. 3.16 And there be other things that are plain and easie Now they that are to deal with dull persons must wave those things that are hard to be understood Heb. 5.11 and must teach them such things as are plain and easie otherwise they will profit little or nothing by the instructions which you give them 1 Cor. 14.9 Except ye utter by the tongue words easie to be understood how shall it be known what is spoken for ye shall speak into the air And therefore if there be any obscurity either in the matter or in the words and phrases of those Scriptures which you teach them explain the sense and meaning thereof as the Levites did when they read the Law to the people Neh. 8.7 8. 2. Let the Scriptures which you teach them be short and such as may be easily remembred as well as easily understood Let them also be comprehensive such as comprehend much matter in few words As for instance Solomon comprehends the whole duty of man in few words when he saith Eccles 12.13
Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of man Our Saviour Jesus Christ sums up all that is delivered by Moses in the Law and by the Prophets in reference to our Duty to our Neighbour in a short sentence Matth. 7.12 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets The Apostle Paul comprehends all the Commandments that are scattered up and down the word of God concerning our duty towards our Neighbour in one short saying Rom. 13.9 If there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self The Apostles resolved that grand question what a man should do to be saved in few words Acts 16.30 31. Sirs What must I do to be saved And they said Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy House Persons of the weakest memories may retain such short Scriptures as these are and by retaining such comprehensive Scriptures they may know and remember much of their duty although they remember but few words 3. If your Children and Servants be dull inculcate the same things over and over to them that they may be the more imprinted in their minds and be more deeply rooted in their memories The Apostle speaking of such as were dull Heb. 5.11 saith vers 12. Ye have need one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God Teaching of Truths once or twice is not enough for such as are dull they must be taught the same things again and again Isa 28.10 Precept must be upon Precept line upon line line upon line here a little and there a little 4. Direct them to and put them upon the practice of those things that will help the infirmities of their Understandings and Memories As for instance First Stir them up to pray to God to give them his holy Spirit The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and will make a man of a quick understanding in the fear of the Lord Isa 11.2 3. It is his work to lead us into all truth John 16.13 And to help the infirmities of our memories by bringing Gods Word to our remembrance John 14.26 Secondly Stir them up to repent of their sins It is sin which darkens our minds and keeps us from the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3.6 7. Silly women laden with sins led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Such persons as do not leave their sins will abide in ignorance although they be Hearers and Learners of Gods word as long as they live But as for such as repent of their sins and turn to God though they be simple persons yea such as have loved simplicity and hated knowledge the Lord promiseth to make known his word to them Prov. 1.22 23. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you Thirdly Advise them to exercise their minds in studying and searching into the Scriptures and to exercise their memories by committing some portion of Gods word to their memories every day Hereby such as have weak memories and could remember little or nothing at the first will find their Memories improved wonderfully and not only their Memories but their Understandings also Use and Exercise of the Faculties of the Soul tend much to their improvement which the Scripture as well as daily Experience doth testifie Heb. 5.14 Even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil SECT 5. The Plea of such as neglect Family-Instruction because their Children or Servants are hard-hearted and rebellious answered Object 5 Mr Children and Servants are so hard-hearted that nothing that I say unto them takes any impression upon their hearts yea they are stubborn and rebellious opposite and ready to contradict and gainsay those things which I teach them out of the word of God And to what end should I trouble my self to teach hard-hearted rebellious gainsaying persons Answ 1. Consider whether God be not calling your sin to remembrance in suffering your Children to be stubborn and refractory in their carriage towards you As for instance Did not you in your your younger days carry your selves in a disobedient stubborn manner towards your Parents Or have you not been stubborn and disobedient in your carriage towards God your heavenly Father Or did you not neglect instructing your Children and too much indulge them in their own wills and ways whilst they were young Or have you not some other way provoked God by your sins to afflict you with stubborn and disobedient Children If so then humble your Souls before God for your sins and thereby you may prevail with God to remove this punishment from you and to bow and bend your Childrens hearts so as they shall come and humble themselves before you and submit to those instructions which you shall give them out of the word of God We know God can work wonderful changes in the hearts of men he can make those that have been an affliction to us to come and humble themselves before us Isa 60.14 The sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet And what more likely way is there to bring this about then for us to bow down and submit our selves to God 2. The Lord vouchsafes to teach hard-hearted rebellious gainsaying persons Neh. 9.16 17.20 They and our Fathers dealt proudly and hardened their necks and hearkened not to thy Commandments and refused to obey neither were mindful of the Wonders thou didst among them but hardened their necks and in their rebellion appointed a Captain to return to their Bondage We see here what a rebellious people the Israelites were but did this cause God to give over instructing them No for it is said vers 20. Thou gavest thy good spirit to instruct them And the like we may see Isa 65.2 3. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people which walked in a way that was not good after their own thoughts a people that provoketh me to anger centinually to my face So also Rom. 10.21 To Israel he saith All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people Stretching out of the hands was used by those that taught and instructed the people Prov. 1.24 Acts 26.1 So that where the Lord saith I have stretched forth my hands to a gainsaying and rebellious people the meaning is that he instructed them and invited them to repentance Now if the Lord condescendeth to teach a rebellious gainsaying people shall we think much to teach
and instruct our Children or Servants because they are stubborn and rebellious 3. Though our Children and Servants should be hard-hearted and rebellious yet we should not forbear or cease to instruct and teach them the good word of the Lord For 1. This will be a means to break their hard hearts and lead them to Repentance and keep them from being rebellious for time to come It will break their hearts though they be as hard as the Rock Jer. 23.29 Is not my word lik as a fire saith the Lord and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in pieces It will be a means to lead them to repentance though they be of such a refractory spirit as to oppose the the Truth and should be such slaves to Satan as to be led captive by him when and to what he pleaseth 2 Tim. 2.24 c. The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil who are taken captive at his will It may keep them from being rebellious for time to come Psal 78.5 7 8. He established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God and keep his Commandments and might not be as their Fathers a stubborn and rebellious Generation 2. We should sin against God if we should leave off teaching our Children or Servants because they carry themselves unkindly and disobediently towards us The people of Israel carried themselves stubbornly and rebelliously both against God and against Samuel 1 Sam. 8.7 19. yet Samuel tells them he would not cease to pray for them and to teach them lest he should sin against God 1 Sam. 12.23 Moreover as for me God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will teach you the good and the right way It is the Will and Command of God that rebellious and hard-hearted persons should be taught his Word as we may see Ezek. 2.3 4 7. where the Lord acknowledgeth the Children of Israel to be rebellious impudent and stiff-hearted and yet he saith to the Prophet Thou shalt speak my words unto them whether they will hear or whether they will forbear for they are most rebellious And if it be Gods Command that the Rebellious should be taught his Word it must needs be a sin to forbear teaching our Families though some or all of them are rebellious persons for then we sin when we transgress any of the Commandments of God 1 John 3.4 Sin is the transgression of the Law 3. Though our Children should for the present rebel against those Instructions and Commands which they receive from us yet afterward they may consider their ways and repent and follow those Counsels and Instructions which we have given them The elder Son spoken of in the Parable at first refused to obey his Father but afterwards he repented and did what his Father commanded him Matth. 21.28 29. A certain man had two Sons and he came to the first and said Son go work to day in my Vinyard he answered and said I will not but afterwards he repented and went 4. If your Children be hard-hearted weep over them when you instruct them that may be a means to break their hearts Acts 21.13 What mean you to weep and to break my heart It is said Job 14.13 The Water wear the Stones Seeing waters will wear the stones why may not you hope by your tears to dissolve and break the stony hearts of your Children SECT 6. The Plea of such as say their Children are too young to be instructed answered Object 6 Mr Children are young and it is too soon to begin to teach them the Scriptures they can't understand any thing as yet if I should go about to teach them and besides I am afraid I should prophane the word of God and take the Name of God in vain if I should teach them whilst they are young and therefore I will let this work alone until they are grown up unto years of discretion then I will do it Answ 1. We can't begin too soon to teach our Children the word of God As soon as they have learned to speak we should endeavour to learn them the Scriptures Isa 28.9 Whom shall he teach knowledge and whom shall he make to understand Doctrine Them that are weaned from the Milk and drawn from the Brests It is said of Timothy 2 Tim. 3.15 From a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is rendred by the Vulgar Latin Ab infantia From thy Infancy and by Schmidius A primâ infantia From thy first Infancy the same greek word is translated Luke 18.15 Infants and Acts 7.19 Young Children Luke 2.12 A Babe The word imports that Timothy was taught the Scriptures very early as soon as ever he was capable of learning them That Precept which is given Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the Way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it implies that we should begin betimes to teach our Children the ways of the Lord. The Hebrew word used there for a Child as Schindler observes totam aetatem teneram complectitur comprehends all a mans tender years as Infancy Childhood Youth It is rendred a Babe Exod. 2.6 The Babe wept and it is applied to one that hath not capacity to discern between good and evil Isa 7.16 Before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and chuse the good So that when Solomon saith Train up a Child in the way that he should go this Precept reacheth our youngest Children and intimates we should begin very early with them to teach and instruct them as soon as there is any capacity in them to learn 2. Satan begins betimes to corrupt our Children and to teach them that which is evil We see many Children learn to lie as soon as they can speak Psal 58.3 They go astray as soon as they are born speaking lies Others learn to mock the people of God 1 King 2.23 There came forth little Children out of the City and mocked him Others learn other vices And shall not we begin as early to teach them good things as Satan begins to teach them wicked and evil things 3. There is a greater capacity in Children to learn and understand than many are aware of They are capable of receiving the holy Ghost whilst they are in their Mothers womb Luk. 1.15 41. And such on whom God pours out his Spirit whilst they are Infants are capable betimes of knowing the things of God We read Psal 8.2 Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength because
of thine Enemies that thou mightest still the Enemy and the Avenger And we find this Scripture applied by Christ to the little Children who cried in the Temple Hosanna to the Son of David Matth. 21.15 16. These little Children by the Revelation of Gods Spirit knew and understood that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah which thing was hid from many of the Pharisees who were wise and prudent men Matth. 11.25 4. Suppose our Children should not understand for the present some of those Scriptures which we teach them yet they may understand them and reap great benefit from them hereafter it may be after we are laid in our Graves John 12.16 These things understood not his Disciples at the first but when Jesus was glorified then remembred they that those things were written of him and that they had done these things unto him And in another place we find that the Disciples after Christs death were much helped in their Faith by remembring a word that Christ had said to them in his Life time about his building of the Temple in three days after it should be destroyed John 2.22 When he was risen from the dead his Disciples remembred that he had said this unto them and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said 5. It is not a profaning of Gods Name or of his holy Word to teach our Children the Scriptures whilst they are young but it makes much for the glorifying of God When little Children cried in the Temple Hosanna to the Son of David the chief Priests and Scribes were sore displeased but what said Christ to this He justifies them he saith it redounded to Gods praise yea so far was he from counting it a profaning of Gods Name that he calls it a perfection of praise Matth. 21.16 Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou hast perfected praise And therefore we should look upon this as a Temptation of Satan when we are perswaded to neglect instructing our Children while they are young lest we should thereby profane the Name of the Lord. 6. Jesus Christ hath given a Charge for the feeding of his Lambs as well as his Sheep John 21.15 Lovest thou me Feed my Lambs He was much displeased with those that would have hinder'd little Children from being brought unto him Mark 10.13 14. They brought young Children to him that he should touch them and his Disciples rebuked those that brought them but when Jesus saw it he was much displeased and said unto them Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God It is the duty of little Children to praise the Lord Psal 149.12 13. Both young men and maidens old men and children let them praise the Name of the Lord. And how can they do this except we teach them to praise the Lord Amongst the Offerings under the Law we find several Creatures offered to God very young Samuel offered a sucking Lamb 1 Sam. 7.9 And Aaron is required to offer a young Calf Lev. 9.2 And they that were poor and could not go to the price of a Lamb were to offer two young Pigeons Lev. 5.7 This may teach us that we cannot dedicate our selves or our Children too soon to the Lord but the younger our Children are when we begin to train them up in the knowledge and fear of God the more acceptable it will be to the Lord who desireth the knowledge of God more than Burnt-Offerings Hos 6.6 7. We know not how little a time we may live with our Children or our Children may live with us and therefore 't is not safe deferring this work for All flesh is grass Isa 40.6 and grass is of a fading nature In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up in the evening it is cut down and withereth Psal 90.6 Mans life is set forth by a more transient fading thing than grass by the Apostle James What is your life It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away Jam. 4.16 Whilst therefore God continueth us with our Children and our Children with us we should set upon this work of teaching and instructing them with all speed and with all our might Eccles 9.10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest SECT 7. The Plea of such as neglect Family-Instruction because their Families are endued with knowledge answered Object 7 My Family are all knowing persons and are well acquainted with the Scriptures already so that it is needless for me to instruct them Answ First If the case be so indeed that all the Members of your Family be knowing persons you have great cause to bless God and to be thankful every day on their behalf 1 Cor. 1.4 5. I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ that in every thing ye are inriched by him in all utterance and in all knowledge 2. It may be if you examine the several members of your Family you shall not find all of them so eminent and abounding in knowledge as you think them to be before you have made trial Who would have thought that Nicodemus who was a Master in Israel should have been so ignorant in the Mystery of Regeneration that when Christ spake of a mans being born again or else he could not see the Kingdom of God he should reply How can a man be born when he is old Can he enter the second time into his mothers womb and be born Joh. 3.4 And when Christ had explained his meaning that he spoke of being born of the Spirit he replied afterward How can these things be Vers 9. Insomuch that our Lord Jesus wonder'd that such a man as he should shew so much ignorance in such things as these were vers 10. Jesus said unto him Art thou a Master of Israel and knowest not these things The Disciples of Christ after they had been a long time with their Master and had been often instructed by him both publickly and privately were so ignorant in the Doctrine of Christs Resurrection that they did not know what his rising from the dead should mean Mark 9.10 They kept that saying with themselves questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean And as they did not understand the Resurrection of Christ so neither did they understand of a long time that he was to die for our sins Luke 9.44 45. Let these sayings sink down into your ears for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men but they understood not this saying and it was hid from them that they perceived it not And they were not only his ordinary followers but his twelve Apostles whom he chose to be with him continually that understood not what he taught them when he spake of his Death and Resurrection
me for such a great man as I am to instruct my Family 4. Riches and Honour and worldly Greatness should be so far from taking off any man from any good work that they should cause him to be more abundant in every good work 1 Tim. 6.17 18. Charge them that are rich in this world that they do good that they be rich in good works Jehoshaphat who was a good as well as a great man was so far from neglecting any of the ways of the Lord because of his Greatness that his heart was more elevated and encouraged to lay out himself for God by the Honour and Greatness which God had conferred upon him 2 Chron. 17.5 6. The Lord stablished the Kingdom in his hand and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat Presents and he had Riches and Honour in abundance and his heart was lift up or as 't is in the Margin was encouraged in the ways of the Lord. SECT 11. The Plea of such as say they have no spare time to instruct their Families because they are poor or have much business or are often abroad answered Object 11 THere are many will plead They have no spare time to instruct their Families some because they are poor others because they are often from home a third sort because they are full of business who are ready to say On the week days we must attend our worldly occasions and on Lords days we must attend publick Ordinances and take some time for our private Communion with God so that we can find no time to instruct our Families Answ 1. Do you not find time to eat and drink with your Children If you can find time notwithstanding all your business to eat and drink with your Families if you had as great a delight in the word of God as Job had you would also find time to instruct them out of the word of God for he esteemed Gods word more than his food yea more than his necessary food Job 23.12 I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food Are not your Childrens Souls infinitely better than their Bodies And will you then spend all your time in providing for their Bodies and spare no time to instruct their Souls Your Childrens Souls are in as great danger to perish without Instruction as their Bodies without Food and Rayment their Bodies will die if they have no Food prepared for them so will their Souls if they be without Instruction Prov. 5.23 He shall die without instruction and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray Hos 4.6 My People are destroyed for want of Knowledge 2. Suppose you are poor your Poverty should be so far from keeping you from teaching Gods Word unto your Children that you should be the more diligent to study Gods word your selves and to teach the same unto your Children And that for several Reasons As First Gods Word will help you and your Children to bear your Poverty with Patience and Contentment The Apostle Paul exerercised much patience in his Afflictions Necessities and Distresses and the help which he had to bear his Necessities with patience was from the Word of God 2 Cor. 6.4 7. Increasing in the knowledge of God will strengthen a man with all might to suffer all sorts of afflictions with all Patience Long-suffering and Joyfulness Col. 1.10 11. Secondly If you be poor and can leave your Children nothing you have the more need to leave them instructed in the Word of God and if you leave them well instructed in the Word you leave them a good portion better then if you left them thousands of pounds in Silver or Gold Psal 119.72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of Gold and Silver Thirdly By laying up Gods word in your hearts and teaching it your Children and practising it in your Lives and Conversations you may come to be deliver'd from your Poverty and be blessed with Riches Prov. 10.22 The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and who are more likely to obtain this Blessing then they that treasure up Gods word in their hearts and teach it to their Children Job 22.22 24. Receive I pray thee the Law from his mouth and lay up his words in thine heart then shalt thou lay up Gold as dust and the Gold of Ophir as the stones of the brook Prov. 24.4 By knowledge shall the Chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant Riches Fourthly If the Lord should see it best for you and your Children to be kept in a poor and low condition and should deny you the Riches of this world yet by conversing much with the word of God and instructing your Children in the knowledge of the Scriptures both you and your Children may come to be rich in faith and by being rich in faith both you and they shall become great Heirs Heirs of a Kingdom Heirs not of an earthly but which is far better of an heavenly Kingdom Jam. 2.5 Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him 3. Multiplicity of Business is not a sufficient Plea for the neglect of this duty of Family-Instruction For First Next to the working out of our own salvation we can have no Business of greater importance than the training up our Families in the knowledge and fear of God Secondly A good man must order all his affairs with discretion so as one Business may not hinder another especially that which is of lesser moment must not hinder that which is of greater concerment Thirdly When a man hath an heart for this work he will easily find time to do it Want of time may be pretended but want of an heart to the work is the real cause why it is neglected Fourthly No men can have more or greater Business than Kings who have the Affairs of an whole Kingdom lying upon their hands yet David who was a King found time to teach his Children Prov. 4.3 4. yet he had much other Business besides governing the Twelve Tribes of Israel who were a very numerous People as preparing Materials to build the Temple composing of Psalms fighting of Battels there being both Civil Wars and War with forraign Enemies in his days c. Fifthly They that have most Business if they take a view of their time shall find that much of their time is lost and mis-spent either in idleness or vain unprofitable Discourse or unnecessary thoughts and cares about the affairs of this life or in some other kind Do but spend so much time in Family-Instruction as you have been used to spend unprofitably and you shall find time enough for this work 4. Suppose you be full of Employment that you can find no spare time on the week day to instruct your Families yet on every Lords day wherein you are to lay aside all your worldly Business you may find time and leasure enough to instruct your
you into all Truth you have several promises to encourage you to rest upon God to teach you the truth and to preserve you in the knowledge and belief of the truth I will mention some of them John 16.13 When he the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth John 8.31 32. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free John 6.45 It is written in the Prophets And ye shall be all taught of God 7. Take some convenient times for chastening your Souls by fasting and humiliation for your sins and bewail before the Lord your ignorance and dulness and all your other sins and cry mightily to him for that wisdom which comes from above hereby Daniel obtained a great measure of Divine Illumination and Knowledge in the Mysteries of Salvation Dan. 10.12 Fear not Daniel for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and to chasten thy self before thy God thy words were heard and I am come for thy words And at another time whilst he was humbling his Soul for his sins and calling upon God the Lord sent an Angel to give him skill and understanding Dan. 9.20 21 22 23. SECT 13. How to taste the sweetness that is in Gods Word The feeling of a dry unsavoury Spirit will not excuse the neglect of Family-Instruction Object 13 I Do not find my own heart affected with the Word of God and how then can I hope that God should accept my work or that I should edifie my Family by instructing them If I could relish and savour the sweetness that is in Gods Word my self I should delight to instruct my Family but because I find my heart in an unsavoury frame this discourageth me from this work Answ I. There is an exceeding great sweetness in the word of God it is as David expresseth it sweeter then honey and the honey-comb Psal 19.10 And we should labour to taste and feel the sweetness thereof and to keep always the savour and relish thereof upon our spirits If any say How may this be done I answer 1. We must put away all our sins for sin vitiates the Palat of the Soul that it cannot find any delight in the word of God Jeremiah speaking of the Jews that had greatly corrupted their ways saith of them Jer. 6.10 Behold the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach they have no delight in it As long as a man remaineth in the band of iniquity he is in the gall of bitterness Acts 8.23 I perceive thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity And it is no wonder that a man who is in the gall of bitterness doth not taste the sweetness of the word of God When we do seriously set our selves to reform our hearts and lives and do refrain our selves from every evil way we shall find unexpressible sweetness in the word of God though we found none at all before Psal 119.101 103. I have refrained my self from every evil way How sweet are thy words unto my taste Yea sweeter than honey to my mouth No earthly thing excels Honey in sweetness Judg. 14.18 What is sweeter than honey Now David who did refrain himself from every evil way did find a sweetness in Gods word not which was equal to but such as did far exceed the sweetness of Honey Yea sweeter then Honey to my mouth 2. We must by the help of the word labour to find out Jesus Christ which we may soon do if we be diligent in searching the Scriptures John 5.39 Search the Scriptures they are they which testifie of me And when we have found Christ let us through the help of the word rest and repose our Souls upon him then shall we find great sweetness and joy in his word Cant. 2.3 I sate down his under shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste When Philip preached Christ to the City of Samaria they that heard him found great joy in the word of God Acts 8.5 8. Philip went down to the City of Samaria and preached Christ unto them and there was great joy in that City 3. We must feed upon the word of God by faith and meditation and make applications of the precious promises to our own Souls and then we shall find great joy and delight in the word of God Jer. 15.16 Thy Words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and the rejoycing of my heart As the way to find and taste the sweetness which is in God is to have our hearts and thoughts much exercised in meditating on him Psal 104.34 My meditation of him shall be sweet So meditation on the Scriptures will cause us to delight and taste sweetness in the Scriptures delight in the Law will accompany a diligent and serious meditation on the Law of God as we may see Psal 1.2 His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night 4. If we would relish and taste the sweetness that is in Gods word we must practice what we read and hear we must take counsel from the Scriptures how to order our Conversations and all our affairs according to the mind and will of God and walk according to the counsels and directions which are given us in the word of God and then Gods Testimonies will be delightful to our souls Psal 119.24 Thy Testimonies are my delight and my Counsellours After David had spoken of his obedience that he yielded to the word of God he speaks of the sweetness he found in it vers 102 103. I have not departed from thy Judgments How sweet are thy words unto my taste II. Though you can't get your hearts into so good a frame as you desire but are sensible of much driness coldness deadness and unsavouriness yet you must not neglect the instructing your Families because you do not find such sweetness and delight in the word of God as others do and that for several Reasons As 1. God can convey the water of life through a dry and barren Reed He makes use of earthen Vessels to convey the heavenly treasure of knowledge and grace that the glory may not be given to the Instruments but that it may appear that it is his excellent power whereby the Sons of men are enlightned and sanctified 2 Cor. 4.7 We have this treasure in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us 2. Though you find your hearts out of frame before you go to your work God may come in with his spirit and move and warm your hearts whilst you are opening or rehearsing some portion of the Scriptures to your Children Luke 24.32 And they said one to another Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the
the training up our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures cause the Ministry or Ministers of Gods word to be slighted but on the contrary the more our Children and Servants are acquainted with the Scriptures the more they will prize and reverence the Ministers of Christ for the Scriptures do teach us to esteem very highly of Christs Ministers 1 Thes 5.12 13. We beseech you Brethren to know them that labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake Rom. 10.15 How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of Peace and bring glad Tydings of good things 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine They are stiled Christs Embassadors 2 Cor. 5.20 Now we are Ambassadours for Christ And who are more honoured than the Embassadours of an Earthly Prince The Scriptures shew what a great sin it is to despise the Ministers of Christ the Lord Jesus counts himself and his Father despised when they are despised Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me 1 Thes 4.8 He that despiseth despiseth not man but God who also hath given unto us his holy Spirit So that the training up of our Families in the fear of God and knowledge of the Scriptures will be so far from causing them to slight the Ministers of Christ or the Ministry of the Word that it will cause them to reverence and esteem them SECT 16. It is dangerous to neglect reading the Scriptures or teaching them our Children from this Plea That we need do nothing more than follow the Light within us Object 16 THere is a Light in all Men Women and Children which will teach them to do that which is just and right in the sight of God and men and will lead them to Life and Salvation if they do but follow the Light that is in them So that we judge it needless to read the Scriptures or to instruct our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures we do enough if we call upon them to follow the Light that is within them Answ It is a great and dangerous mistake for a man to neglect reading and searching the Scriptures and instructing his Family in the knowledge of the Scriptures from a perswasion that neither he nor his Family need to do any thing more towards the obtaining Salvation than to follow the Light that is in them To make this evident Consider 1. There is no man hath so much Light or Knowledge but it is necessary that he should give himself to the reading of the Scriptures thas he may gain more Knowledge All men may be ranked under these two heads either they are such as abide in their natural unregenerate condition or they are such as are converted and endued with the grace of God As for men in their natural condition they are destitute of saving knowledge Rom. 3.11 There is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh after God 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Rom. 1.31 Without understanding They are said to be in darkness 1 John 2.9 11. He that saith he is in the Light and hateth his Brother is in darkness even until now He that hateth his Brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darkness hath blinded his eyes They are said not only to be in darkness but to be darkness it self Ephes 5.8 Ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye Light in the Lord walk as Children of Light And therefore men in their natural condition had need give themselves to reading of the Scriptures that they may be inlightned and converted to God Psal 19.7 8. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The Commandment of the Lord is pure inlightning the eyes And that they may be made wise to salvation for the knowledge of the Scriptures will make men wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 From a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus As for such as are inlightned and converted to God even those of them that are endued with the greatest measure of saving knowledge have need to read the Scriptures daily and diligently that they may get more knowledge for the wisest men are imperfect in knowledge The Apostle Paul saith of himself that he knew but in part 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face Now I know in part but then I shall know even as also I am known David who was wiser then his Enemies Psal 119 98. and had more understanding than all his Teachers vers 99. and understood more than the Ancients vers 100. doth acknowledge before God that he had much folly and ignorance Psal 69.5 O God thou knowest my foolishness Psal 73.22 So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a Beast before thee And he prayeth with great earnestness unto God to give him knowledge and understanding and to teach him his Statutes as we may see Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law Verse 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy Statutes Vers 34. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law Verse 125. I am thy Servant give me under standing that I may know thy Testimonies And in many other places We are commanded to grow in knowledge as well as in grace 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And therefore seeing the Scriptures are the means whereby we get knowledge Psal 119.104 Through thy Precepts I get understanding And the means of increasing knowledge verse 99. I have more understanding than all my Teachers for thy Testimonies are my meditation It is necessary that they who have the greatest measure of Light and Understanding should read and meditate in the Word of God night and day that they may grow in knowledge 2. There are some sins which that Light which is in natural men cannot discover without the help of the Word and Spirit of God As for instance The first motions of sin though not consented to are sin for they are transgressions of the Law which saith Thou shalt not covet The Law doth not only say Thou shalt not consent to thou shalt not follow or yeild to thy inordinate desires but it forbids the motions themselves Thou shalt not covet Now the Apostle Paul telleth us he had not known these first motions which he calls by the name of lust to be
sin if it had not been for the Law of God Rom. 7.7 Nay I had not known sin but by the Law for I had not known lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet Not to believe in Jesus Christ is a great sin it is a sin for which God will damn men at the day of Judgment Mark 16.16 He that believeth not shall be damned Now the Light of Nature doth not convince a man that it is a sin not to believe in Jesus Christ it is by the Scripture which holdeth forth the damnable nature of this sin of not believing in Jesus Christ John 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the onely begotten Son of God And by the help of the Spirit that we come to be convinced of the sin of not believing in Christ John 16.8 9. And when he that is the Spirit which is the Comforter spoken of in the former verse is come he will reprove the world of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment of Sin because they believe not in me And as there are some sins of which natural Light doth not convince a man so those sins of which it doth convince a man it doth not convince with such clearness and power as the Law doth which stops a mans mouth and makes him fall down before God as as a lost undone Creature Rom. 3.19 20. Now we know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them who are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God By the Law is the knowledge of sin 3. There are several Points of the Christian Religion of great moment which that Light that is in natural men discovereth not neither can we know them any other ways but by the help of the Scriptures or by immediate Revelation from God As for instance To know and believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah is of such moment as that we can't be saved unless we believe him to be the Messiah John 8.24 I said therefore unto you That ye shall die in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins Now this knowledge Flesh and Blood Nature in its highest improvements cannot attain it must either be by Revelation from God Matth. 16.15 16 17. Whom say ye that I am And Simon Peter answered and said Thou art Christ the Son of the living God And Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven Or by the help of the Scriptures And therefore when Apollos would convince the Jews that Jesus was the Christ he did it by the Scriptures Acts 18.28 For he mightily convinced the Jews and that publickly shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ And this way the Apostle Paul took also he alledged those Scriptures that spoke of the Messiah and explained them and thereby proved to them that Jesus of Nazareth was Christ And Paul as his manner was went in unto them and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures opening and alledging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead and that this Jesus whom I preach unto you is Christ It is of great moment to know what that Righteousness is whereby a Sinner should come to be justified in the sight of God If a man be ignorant of this Righteousness he will seek to establish his own and will not submit to the Righteousness of God Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of Gods Righteousness and going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the Righteousness of God The Light of Nature cannot find out this Righteousness it is no where revealed but in the Gospel Rom. 1.16 17. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek for therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written The Just shall live by faith That there are Three Persons and yet but One God is plainly revealed in the Scriptures 1 John 5.7 There are Three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these Three are One But without the help of the Scriptures the Light of Nature can attain to but little or no knowledge of this great Mystery And as there are some Doctrines so also some Duties in the Christian Religion which the Light of Nature cannot discover As for instance Baptizing of persons with water in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost is an Ordinance of Jesus Christ which he would have continued and with which he will afford his presence to the end of the world Matth. 28 19 20. So also is eating Bread and drinking Wine in the Lords Supper and Ordinance of Christ to be continued in the Church till his coming to Judgment 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come But natural Light doth not teach a man that it is his duty to be baptized or to receive the Lords Supper It is from the Scriptures we learn that Baptism and the Lords Supper are Ordinances of Jesus Christ and that the use of these Ordinances is to be continued in the Church of Christ to the end of the World 4. The Light which we must attend unto and follow and by which we must order our Lives and Conversations is the Mind and Will of God revealed in the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts Observe here First That the Light to which the Apostle would have us take heed and saith they do well who take heed to it is the Word of Prophecy by the Word of Prophecy he understands the Scriptures which were written and delivered to us by the Prophets as is evident from the ensuing word Knowing this first that no Prophecy of the Scriptures c. Secondly It is our duty to take heed to the word of Prophecy as long as we live in this world Whereunto ye do well to take heed until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts By the Day-star is meant Jesus Christ Rev. 22.16 I am the bright and morning Star By the Day is not meant only or chiefly the day of Grace or the day of the Gospel for these days had already dawned upon those persons to whom the Apostle wrot this Epistle for he saith of them They knew and were established in the present truth vers 12. They were not only acquainted with the Doctrine of the Gospel
some mens light doth so far misguide them as that they think they do God service when they kill his servants John 16.2 Yea the time cometh that whosoever kelleth you will think that he doth God service A man may verily think that his ways are right and good and yet they may be such as will lead him to destruction Prov. 14.12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death And therefore we find God charging us not to lean to our own understandings Prov. 3.5 Lean not unto thine own understanding And commanding us to observe his Statutes and not to do such things as are right in our own eyes Deut. 12.1 8. These are the Statutes and Judgments which ye shall observe to do ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes 6. Satan can transform himself into an Angel of Light and suggest his own evil motions under the name and notion of the dictates and motions of the Spirit of God 2 Cor. 11.14 Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light And because Satan can transform himself and make as if he were an Angel of Light we are commanded not to believe every Spirit but to try the Spirits whether they be of God 1 John 4.1 Beloved believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God And by what shall we try the Spirits whether they be of God This must be done by the VVord of God we must have recourse to the Law and Testimonies what is agreeable to the Scriptures we must own as the Will of God what is contrary to them we must reject as coming from the Spirit of Delusion Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them VVhatever Light or Spirit would draw us off from or perswade us to any thing contrary to This Word that is the Law and the Testimony is to be rejected as no true Light nor true Spirit 7. The Lord commandeth all sorts of persons to read the Scriptures and that not in a slight cursory manner but with diligence and great attention 1 Tim. 4.13 Give attendance to reading John 5.39 Search the Scriptures The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to weigh and consider diligently what we read to search into the understanding of those things that are hidden and abstruse It is the same word which is used Rev. 2.23 I am he which searcheth the heart and reins Such a search should we make into the Scriptures we should labour to have a clear and thorow understanding of the most abstruse and hidden truths that are wrapped up in the Scriptures It is not only our duty to read the Scriptures but to do it daily Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily And to continue reading some portion of them every day as long as we live Deut. 17.18 19. He shall write him a copy of this Law in a Book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites and it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life This is spoken of the Kings of Israel and if they were obliged to get a Copy of the Law and to read therein all their days then surely other inferiour persons that have nothing so much business upon their hands as Kings are obliged to spare some time every day from their occasions to read some portion of the Scriptures Besides our reading the Scriptures privately by our selves God commandeth them to be read publickly in the audience of all the people both Men and Women and Children Deut. 31.11 12. And we find it was the practise of the servants of God in their publick Assemblies to read the Scriptures Josh 8.34 35. He read all the words of the Law the Blessings and Cursings according to all that is written in the Book of the Law there was not a word that Moses commanded which Joshua read not before all the Congregation of Israel with the women and their little ones and the strangers that were conversant among them And this they did not at some extraordinary times only but it was their constant course to read the Scriptures in their Assemblies every Sabbath day Acts 1.13 22. Moses of old time hath in every City thens that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day And our Lord Jesus approved this practice by his own example he read the Scriptures to the Jews on the Sabbath days Luc. 4.16 17. And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read and there was delivered unto him the Book of the Prophet Esaias 8. As all sorts of persons are commanded to read the Scriptures so all sorts of persons may reap great benefit by reading the Scriptures Men VVomen Children Strangers all sorts of people may learn to fear and obey the Lord by reading the word of God Deut. 31.11 12. Thou shalt read this Law before all Israel Gather the people together Men Women and Children and the Stranger that is within thy Gates that they may hear and that they may learn and fear the Lord your God and observe to do all the words of this Law Reading the Scriptures is an effectual means to beget Repentance Neh. 8.8 9. So they read in the Book in the Law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading All the people wept when they heard the words of the Law And Faith Acts 17.11 12. They received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Therefore many of them believed The Lord hath promised his Blessing to those that read and practise those things which are written in the Scriptures Rev. 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the Words of this Prophecy and keep those things which are written therein 9. The Light that is within us if it be true Light teacheth us that we ought to yield obedience to all the Commandments of God and this is one of the Commandments of God which he doth often inculcate upon us That we should teach his word unto our Children and train them up in the knowledge and obedience of his Laws as hath been already proved from Deut. 6.6 7. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children Psal 78.5 He established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children Ephes 6.4 And ye Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath but bring them up in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And several other places So that if we would follow our Light which we have received from Gods word that will teach us to instruct our Children diligently in the knowledge of the Scriptures 10. The great ignorance and folly which is in Children shews that they have need of more instruction than to be called upon to follow the Light that is in them for how little Light have Children before they are instructed God commands his word to be read to Children and why Deut. 31.11 13. Thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing Gather the People together men women and children And that their Children which have not known any thing may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as ye live in the Land whither ye go to possess See here how little knowledge is ascribed unto Children That their Children which have not known any thing Observe also what means God prescribes for the bringing Children to know and fear the Lord and that is reading his Law to them Thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing that their Children may hear and learn to fear the Lord. Instead of knowledge there is folly in our Children and this folly is bound up so fast in their hearts that it cannot be fetch'd out without instruction Prov. 8. 33. Hear instruction and be wise Neither will instruction do it alone unless correction be joyned with instruction Prov. 22.15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a Child but the Rod of Correction will drive it far from him Prov. 29.15 The Rod and Reproof give wisdom But how will that Child prove that is left to himself and hath neither instruction nor correction The next words will inform us But a Child left to himself bringeth his Mother to shame As he that refuseth to receive instruction regardeth not but despiseth his own Soul Prov. 15.32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own Soul So he that refuseth to give instruction to his Children may be said to despise the souls of his Children For if he did regard them he would seek after their salvation and if he did seek after their salvation he would instruct them in the knowledge of the Scriptures which are able to make them wise to salvation There being much folly in our Childrens hearts if we let them live without instruction they will go astray and perish eternally Prov. 10.21 Fools die for want of wisdom Prov. 5.23 He shall die without instruction and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray SECT 17. Heb. 8.11 explained It doth not imply Family-Instruction or Ministerial Teaching to be needless Object 17 IT seems a needless thing for Parents to teach their Children or Masters their Servants seeing the Lord hath promised in the times of the Gospel And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest Heb. 8.11 Answ I. The sense and meaning of this Scripture They shall not teach every man his Neighbour c. is much perverted when it is brought to prove either Ministerial Teaching or Family-Instruction to be needless and of no use in the days of the Gospel For 1. As to the preaching of the Word the Lord Jesus will have that continued and will afford his presence with this Ordinance till the end of the world Matth. 28 19 20. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Till all that belong to the Election of Grace are brought home to Christ and till all that are brought to Christ are made perfect and are arrived unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ God will have the work of the Ministry continued and Pastors and Teachers to carry on this work Ephes 4.11 12 13. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Now this work will not be fully done till the end of the world 2. Neither doth this Scripture make void Family-Instruction for the same Apostle who wrote this Epistle to the Hebrews wherein he saith They shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother c. chargeth Parents in the days of the Gospel to bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Eph. 6.4 yea in this very Epistle to the Hebrews he saith of such as are dull of hearing Ye need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5.12 which he would not have done if he had thought teaching by men to be needless under the days of the Gospel II. When it is said They shall not teach every man his Neighbour c. The meaning is they shall not only be taught by men but they shall also have the teaching of Gods Spirit whereby the teachings they have from men shall be blessed and be made effectual for the conveying of the knowledge of God Many Examples may be given where this word Not is not an absolute negation but signifies not only take one or two Hos 6.6 I desired mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than burnt Offerings Sacrifice was commanded under the Law and therefore the meaning cannot be that God did not at all desire Sacrifice but that he did not desire Sacrifice only but mercy also or that he desired mercy more than Sacrifice as the following words intimate And the knowledge of God more than burnt Offerings John 7.16 Jesus answered them My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me That is It is not only mine but also his that sent me III. This Scripture may be understood comparatively of the abundance of knowledge that should be in the times of the Gospel above what was in the times of the Law Knowledge doth so abound under the New Testament Administration that some mean and weak persons in the time of the Gospel know as much of Christ crucified and God reconciled in Christ and other Gospel-Mysteries as they that were Teachers of others knew under the Law Zach. 12.8 He that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David Knowledge should so abound that there should seem to be no need of teaching every man his Neighbour in comparison of what was under the Law when the Doctrine of the Gospel was wrapped up in so many Types and Shadows that it was
a very hard matter to come to the knowledge of Christ Crucified IV. That this Scripture doth not make void either Ministerial Teaching or Family-Instruction besides what hath been already said may further be proved 1. Because God teacheth in the use of means God could have revealed Himself and his Son in an immediate manner unto Cornelius but he puts him on sending for Peter to instruct him Acts 11.13 14. Send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose sirname is Peter who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy House shall be saved And it is his Covenant to teach his People not by his Spirit only or by his Word only but by his Word and Spirit and that as long as the world stands Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit which is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy Seed nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds Seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever 2. We see by sad experience the great ignorance and rudeness and dulness of those Children and Servants and of those Families and Places that have no instruction Though they live in Gospel-times and in the days of the New Covenant yet if they have no instruction they are as ignorant as they were that lived under the time of the Old Testament SECT 18. Though some Persons are nothing bettered by instruction yet we must continue to instruct them Object 18 WE see many Children and Servants that have good instructions prove very vile and corrupt and are never a whit the better but rather the worse for all the pains that is taken with them and therefore it is to no purpose for us to instruct our Families Answ 1. Though some are never a whit the better for the instructions and good counsels which are given them yet others are converted to God and edified thereby And who can tell but God may bless your labour unto the Conversion and Salvation of those that are under your Charge 2. If any means under Heaven will do them good instructing them out of the word of God is the most likely way and means to lead them to Repentance We think if a damned Soul should come out of Hell and declare what torments it hath felt in Hell or a Saint should come out of Heaven and declare what Joys he hath possess'd in Heaven this would work wonderfully upon our Children towards the leading of them to Repentance but the word of God which is contained in the Scriptures will do more towards the bringing men to Repentance then the rising of one from the dead would do Luc. 16.29 30 31. They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them And he said Nay father Abraham but if one went to them from the dead they will repent And he said unto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rise from the dead If the Scriptures will not perswade men to repent and believe such men would not repent and believe though Jesus Christ himself were on earth to speak to them John 5.46 47. Had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me for he wrote of me but if ye believe not his writings how shall ye believe my words 3. If you should not convert your Children and Servants but they should still go on in their evil ways yet it is worth your time and pains to instruct and warn them of the danger they are in by reason of sin for hereby you shall deliver your own souls from being guilty of their Blood Ezek. 3.19 If thou warn the wicked and he turn not from his wickedness nor from his wicked way he shall die in his iniquity but thou hast delivered thy Soul 4. The word of God is to some men the savour of death unto death yet the Ministers of Christ must not cease to preach the word because all that hear them are not converted from their evil ways And when they discharge their work and duty faithfully they are a sweet savour unto God in those that perish as well as in them that are saved 2 Cor. 2.15 16. We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish to the one we are the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life So it is with Masters of Families they must not desist from Family-Instruction though they should see their Children or Servants continuing in their sins for if they discharge their duty faithfully and with diligence though they should have no success they shall be accepted of God in Christ Jesus SECT 19. The fear of aggravating our Childrens Condemnation should not make us neglect Family-Instruction Object 19 THe more light my Children have the greater their Condemnation will be if they make not a good use of it and I am afraid they will not and therefore I am afraid to instruct them lest I should aggravate their condemnation Answ I. It is true that the more Light any man hath the greater his condemnation will be if he do not make a good use of it Luc. 12.47 That Servant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes II. Though the case be so that the more light any man hath the greater will be his condemnation yet this must not make you neglect instructing them out of fear that they should not improve their light and so have the greater condemnation For 1. Some mens sin and condemnation will be aggravated by the coming of Christ into the world John 15.22 If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak for their sin Yet God did well in sending his Son into the world The preaching of Christ and the Gospel will make their condemnation more dreadful where Christ and the Gospel are not embraced than the condemnation of the Heathen that never heard of Christ John 3.19 This is the condemnation That Light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than Light because their deeds were evil See also Mat. 11. 23 24. Yet the preaching of Christ and the Gospel to the world is a good work and God pronounceth a wo against those that he hath called to the Ministry of the Gospel who preach it not 1 Cor. 9. 16. For necessity is laid upon me yea wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel Suppose it should increase your Childrens misery in the world to come to have Light if they make not a good use of it yet you do well when you instruct them yea a necessity is laid upon you and wo be unto you if you do it not 2. You run a greater hazard both of your own and your Childrens condemnation by neglecting to
instruct them than you do of aggravating their condemnation in case you should instruct them when as you do not know whether they will make a good use of their Light You hazard your own condemnation by neglecting your duty and your Childrens by nursing them up in ignorance but by instructing them you may promote both your own and their salvation 1 Tim 4.16 The same argument that the Apostle useth to perswade Wives to dwell with their Husbands and Husbands to dwell with their Wives 1 Cor. 7.16 For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O man but thou shalt save thy Wife The like may I use with Parents to instruct their Children notwithstanding all their fears of aggravating their condemnation What knowest thou whether thou shalt save thy Children III. Whereas Satan would beat you off from instructing your Children by putting you in sear that you shall thereby aggravate their condemnation this is but a vain suggestion to hinder you in your duty for you can't take a more effectual course to prevent your Childrens condemnation and to promote their salvation than to instruct them in the knowledge of the Scriptures for Knowledge is a means to breed Faith Psal 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee and true Repentance Jer. 24.7 I will give them an heart to know me for they shall return unto me with their whole heart and to obtain Remission of sins Isa 53.11 By his Knowledge shall my Righteous Servant justifie many Knowledge also is a means of obtaining eternal life John 17.3 And this is eternal life that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent SECT 20. Family-Instruction will prevent not spread Errours How such as teach others may be kept from perverting or corrupting the Word of God Object 20 THis will be the way to spread and multiply Errors for illiterate men to take upon them to instruct their Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures Answ I. It doth highly concern all Misters of Families as well as Ministers of the Word to be very careful that they do not teach any false and erronious Doctrine unto those whom God hath committed to their charge This would bring down a curse instead of a blessing yea though they should seem like Angels yet would they be accursed if they perverted the Gospel of Christ Gal. 7 8. There be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ but though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you let him be accursed The Apostle was so desirous to prevent the spreading of false Doctrine that he earnestly besought Timothy to stay on purpose at Ephesus to charge in a solemn manner those that he saw inclinable to Errours to teach no other Doctrine but what was agreeable to the Doctrine of the Gospel 1 Tim. 1. 3 4. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine so do Such as teach lies instead of truth are accounted by God the bafest and vilest of men and therefore are compared not to the Head but the Tail Isa 9.14 15. Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel Head and Tail Branch and Rush in one day The Ancient and Honourable he is the Head and the Prophet that teacheth lies he is the Tail When they that are Leaders of others do cause them to erre instead of promoting their salvation they will be the cause of their destruction Isa 9.16 For the Leaders of this People cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroyed If you ask What shall we do that we may be kept from corrupting and perverting the word of God when we instruct our Families I answer 1. Pray to God with humble and lowly hearts to give you his holy spirit God hath promised his holy spirit to them that ask it Luc. 11.13 If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him And when God hath given you his holy Spirit he will make and keep your minds sound in the Faith He is stiled The Spirit of Power and of Love and of a Sound Mind 2 Tim. 1.7 2. See that your hearts be right and sincere with God and that you walk before God in truth and uprightness do all your works and speak all your words as in the sight of God and then he will guide you by the Spirit of Truth into all Truth and keep you from corrupting his holy word 2 Cor. 2.17 For we are not as many which corrupt the word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ 3. Purifie your hearts and minds from all corrupt Lusts VVhen a man hath a corrupt mind he will be apt to put corrupt glosses upon the vvord of God VVhen he can't bring up his VVill to Gods he will be ready to interpret Gods Mind according to his own VVill. The Apostle conjoyns these two Men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth 1 Tim. 6.5 Now if you would purifie your minds 1. Have faith in Christ Acts 15.19 And put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith 2. Obey those Truths vvhich God hath revealed to you 1 Pet. 1.22 Ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth 4. Take heed of departing from the simplicity of the Gospel under the notion of seeking after more sublime spiritual and mysterious Truths The Apostle vvas jealous lest the Corinthians should be corrupted this vvay 2 Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 5. Keep to the Analogy of Faith Rom. 12.6 Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us whether Prophecy let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith By prophesying here most understand not the gift of fore-telling things to come but the Gift of interpreting and explaining the Scriptures as the word is used 1 Cor. 14.3 He that prophesieth speaketh unto men unto edification and exhortation and comfort Now the Apostle adviseth that this prophesying be according to the proportion or analogy of Faith by prophesying according to the analogy of Faith we may understand that no Scripture should be so expounded as to contradict any Article of our Faith or Precepts of an holy godly life 6. Be sober-minded and do not exercise your selves in those things which are too high for you Psal 131.1 Understand well your selves what you undertake to teach your Families The Apostle gives this character of some in his time desiring to be teachers of the Law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm 1 Tim. 1.7 When we teach our Families
those things which we understand and fully believe upon the evidence and demonstration of the Word and Spirit of God and also those things which we know experimentally to be true we need not fear leading them into errors See more Directions for getting a right understanding of the Scriptures and preventing our wresting of them in the Answer to Object 12. Chap. iv Sect. 12. pag. 243 244 245. II. This work of instructing our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures wisely managed will be so far from increasing errors that it will be a great means of preventing their falling into error and will establish them in the truth that they shall not be shaken and carried to and fro with every wind of Doctrine The Lord Jesus as hath been already hinted tells us That the errors of the Saduces did arise from their ignorance of the Scriptures Matth. 22.29 Jesus answered and said unto them Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God And the same passage is recorded by another Evangelist Mark 12.24 Jesus answering said unto them Do ye not therefore err because ye know not the Scriptures neither the power of God SECT 21. There is more work lieth upon Parents than to teach or hear their Children read the Scriptures Object 21 WE do teach our Children to read the Scriptures and we do read the Word of God every day in our Families and do call upon our Children to read the Word of God both alone by themselves and sometimes to us in our hearing and is not this enough What would you have us do more Answ All this is very good yet it is needful that you should do somewhat more than this if you desire to train them up in the Knowledge and Obedience of the Scriptures As I. Chuse out for them such plain Texts of Scripture as do prove and confirm the Articles of our Faith and such Precepts as may guide and direct them to lead an holy life and such Promises as may encourage them to trust in God for all good things and support them under all sorts of troubles and such Threatnings as may deter them from those sins they are inclined to or are in danger to be drawn to when they shall be removed from under your Charge Chuse out also for them such Scriptures as may shew them their sinful and miserable condition by nature their need of Jesus Christ and of the regenerating Grace of God the excellency necessity and advantage of a holy Life c. If you set a whole Loaf or a whole Dish of Meat before a Child that is not able to carve for himself he receives no benefit thereby but if you cut out for him and lay before him what you judge to be convenient for him he feeds on it and is nourished So it is here if you chuse out some particular portions of Scripture such as you shall judge most suitable and fit to instruct your Children either in matters of Faith or Practice This will tend more to their edification than Reading of whole Chapters to them without making application of any particular passages therein after you have read to them or they have read a Chapter in your hearing The Apostle speaks of it as a great commendation in a Minister as that which doth approve him both to God and men to divide the Word of Truth aright 2 Tim. 2.15 Study to shew thy self approved unto God a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth Grotius gives this interpretation of the Greek word Evangelium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui cuique accomodat ea monita quae ei maxime conveniunt He divides the Word of Truth aright that applies to every one those Instructions which are most suitable to him and convenient for him And as this is the commendation of a Minister so also of the Master of a Family to apply such portions of Scripture to all the Members of his Family as are suitable and proper for every one of them Our Lord Jesus accounts it both wisdom and faithfulness in a Steward 1. To give out portions of meat to every one in the House 2. To give every one Their portion that is that which is allowed them by their Master that which belongs to them that which is suitable and convenient for them 3. To do this in due season Luc. 12.42 And the Lord said Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom his Lord shall make Ruler over his Houshold to give them their portion of Meat in due season II. Open the sense and meaning of those portions of Scripture which you make choice of for their instruction Thus our Lord Jesus instructed his Disciples he did not only quote Scriptures out of Moses and the Prophets to prove that he was the Messias that he must suffer before he entred into glory c. But he expounded the sense and meaning of those Scriptures Luc. 24.27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself And this opening of the Scriptures which he produced did much affect their hearts vers 32. Did not our hearts burn within us while he opened to us the Scriptures The Eunuch who was a man of great Authority under Candace Queen of the Ethiopians and had the charge of all her treasure and if he had not been a wise man it is probable he would not have been placed in so great authority who was also a devout man and came as far as Jerusalem to worship God acknowledged that he could not understand the Scriptures without being guided into the sense and meaning of what he read when he was reading in the Prophet Esaias and Philip said unto him Vnderstandest thou what thou readest He said unto him How can I except some man should guide me Acts 8.27 30 31. If such a great man such a devout man as this Eunuch was needed one to guide him into the understanding of the Scriptures what need have our Children and Servants of having those Scriptures wherein they are instructed opened and explained to them III. Endeavour to fix those things in their memories which you teach them by causing them often to rehearse those portions of Scripture wherein they have been instructed The Apostle Peter endeavoured that they whom he instructed might keep what he had taught them always in remembrance 2 Pet. 1.15 Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in your remembrance So should you labour to imprint those things in their memories which you teach your Children that after you are dead and can instruct them no more they may remember what you have taught while you lived with them IV. Apply the Word of God to them when you read the Scriptures in your Families as the Prophet Malachy did his Message that he delivered to the Priests Mal. 2.1 2. And now O ye Priests this
Eccles 8.11 They would always have gone on resisting the Spirit of God and doing those things which are grievous in the sight of God Psal 10 4 5. The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts his ways are always grievous Acts 7.51 Ye do always resist the holy Ghost They would continually have sinned against God in their hearts and lives Gen. 6.5 God saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the Earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually Time would have been so far from leading them to Repentance that the longer they had lived they would have been the more subtil and obstinate sinners and would have been longer accustomed to do evil and the longer a man hath been accustomed to do evil the harder it is to bring him to Repentance Jer. 13.23 Is there any inequality in punishing them for ever who would have sinned for ever Now if God hath dealt righteously with your Children why should you fret or be disquieted at the righteous dealings of the Just and Righteous God Was it meet that the Lord should have perverted Justice for your sake or the sake of your Children III. The Lord hath fulfilled his eternal counsel and declared his truth and faithfulness in fulfilling his Threatnings denounced against impenitent sinners by condemning your children who died in their sins unto eternal torments God hath plainly revealed it in his holy Word that it is his eternal and unchangable purpose to cast into eternal torments all wicked and ungodly persons that live and die in their sins without Repentance The Scriptures are full of Threatnings to this effect as Psal 9.17 Luk. 13.3 5. Mat. 13.41 42. Mat. 25.41 Rev. 21.8 with a multitude of other places why then should you fret at Gods fulfilling his eternal counsel and at his faithfulness in fulfilling his word As Bildad said to Job 18.4 He teareth himself in his anger shall the Earth be forsaken for thee And shall the Rock be removed out of his place The like may I say to you Why do you tear your selves in your anger Should the Lord have forsaken his eternal counsels which are more firm than the Earth or Rocks and would have brought greater confusion than the removing the Earth or the Rocks out of their places for your sakes Would you have had him altered the way and course of mans salvation for the sake of your Children Would you have had him proved unfaithful in not fulfilling his word to spare your Children from eternal torments This in effect is to have desired that he would have denied his own Being and ceased to be God rather than to have condemned your Children For if God should depart from his faithfulness he should deny his own Being 2 Tim. 2.12 He abideth faithful he cannot deny himself IV. Murmuring and fretting against God for condemning your Children who died in their sins unto eternal torments is the way to fall into the same condemnation with your Children For those that resemble Dogs by their barking and snarling and being angry at what God doth shall be shut out of heaven Rev. 22.15 Without are Dogs The Apostle cautions us against murmuring lest we should thereby provoke God to destroy us 1 Cor. 10.10 Neither murmur ye as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the Destroyer And therefore instead of murmuring against God for destroying your Children admire his great and wonderful mercy that you as well as they are not consumed and cast into everlasting burnings Lam. 3.22 It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not V. Your excessive sorrow for your deceased children who died in their sins doth not please God nor any way benefit you or your children It doth not please God he is troubled that you do not joy more in having him for your God and Portion and Saviour than you grieve at the loss of your children but that your grief for your children should swallow up your joy in God and may say to you as Elkanah did to Hannah 1 Sam. 1.8 Why weepest thou And why eatest thou not And why is thy heart grieved Am not I better to thee than ten sons When any affection exceedeth its due bounds it is sinful and that which is sinful displeaseth God Your excessive sorrow will no ways benefit your deceased children If you could shed Rivers of Tears for them they would avail nothing for their Release or the mitigation of their torments Prayers and Tears may do great things for the Living but they are not any way profitable for the Dead And as Prayers and Tears profit dead men nothing so neither can any other work that is done by any man under the Sun be any way beneficial to the Dead Solomon speaking of the dead saith Eccl. 9.6 Neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the Sun When once God hath passed sentence upon them for their eternal state no Creature can prevail with him to change his mind Job 23.13 But he is in one mind and who can turn him Not one Soul that is cast into hell can by any means be redeemed from thence again Psal 49.8 For the redemption of their soul is precious and it ceaseth for ever And as your inordinate sorrow doth not benefit your deceased children so neither do you your selves reap any advantage by it it is so far from doing you good that it hurts you both in body and soul and estate It hurts your bodies as it dries and consumes them and hastens your death Prov. 17.22 A broken spirit drieth the bones 2 Cor. 7.10 The sorrow of the world worketh death It hurts your Souls as it hinders your communion with God and your performing that service you owe to God and tends to the destroying of the Kingdom of God in your Souls which consisteth not only in righteousness but also in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 It hurts your Estates as it unfits you for the works of your Calling And therefore seeing that your excessive grief doth not please God nor benefit your Children or your selves nor any other person but you disquiet your selves in vain let this put a period to your immoderate sorrows VI. Turn your excessive sorrowing for the loss of your deceased Childrens souls into zealous endeavours after the salvation of your own soul and the souls of your surviving Children Instead of unprofitable mourning for the dead rise up and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling and save if it be possible all that are committed to your charge As the Lord called off Samuel from mourning for Saul to anoint an other King 1 Sam. 16.1 And the Lord said unto Samuel how long wilt thou mourn for Saul seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel Fill thine horn with oyl and go c. So