formall Pharisaicall Honour of Parents there is an Honour of Parents common not alone to Hypocrites but to very Pagans also who from meer naturall principles have done much this way in Honour of Parents and have been very eminent and famous therein But to passe them by at present and instance in others Paul before his conversion was an exact Moralist touching the letter of the Law and so of the 5th Commandement he was blamelesse Phil. 3. 6. So that young man in his sense had kept all and o the 5th Commandment according to the letter of it Mark 10. 19 20. Yet a meer unregenerate person Now if persons in the relation of Children rightly honour their Parents it may be discerned Marks of due honour of Parents by such markes as these 1. If Conscience to God and to his command 1. If from a good conscience hath the greatest stroak in the Honour given to Parents by their Children If rightly honoured they are honoured in the Lord as in that branch of this Honour it is said Eph. 6. 1. Children obey your Parents in the Lord. So it is true in Honour in generall or in any other particular of Honour due to Parents they must be respected reverenced and recompenced c. in the Lord. Or so as it be from a good Conscience and may stand with a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1. 5. the end or scope of the Commandement even of the whole Law specially that of the second Table and particularly this of the fifth Commandement also is Love to whom Matth. 22. 37 38 39 40. all the duties of the Law are referred as to their head out of a pure heart and a good Conscience and faith unfeighned True it is the Law of nature and Nations also may and must have a strong hand in the Honour of Parents by their Children but must not have the chief hand therein respect may and must also be had to the blessing of life and that it may be well with us Eph. 6. 2 3. Honour thy Father and Mother that thou maist live long and that it may be well with thee We may and must aime at this that it may be well with us in our souls bodies estates names occasions relations changes prosperity adversity life death and after death but yet conscience to God and his command together with chief respect had to the glory of God must be the great wheel which carrieth us on in this good way Paul thought to gain eternall life by his Morall Righteousness that set him so hard to this and other works of the Law Ph. 3. 6 7. The yong mans question intimateth what was uppermost in his heart in all his keepings of the Law namely the getting of eternall life onely Mark 10. 17 19 20. And therefore these were notright in any of their acts of obedience to this fifth Commandement or to any of the rest of the ten Commandements Now if this Honour to Parents be indeed from a good conscience it will be also from faith unfeigned This is discerned if from Faith for they are joyned 1 Tim. 1. 5. When the interest which children have in the Lord and in his gracious covenant and promises is a main ground of the Honour of Reverence or of any other Honour which persons as in the Relation of Children do give unto their Mother or to their Father this is suitable to Gods mind Levit. 19. 3. Ye shall fear every man his Mother and every man his Father why so or what should move them to that it followeth I am the Lord your God Because they believe him to be their blessed Covenant Father in the Messiah they are therefore the rather to put all the Honour they can upon the Image of his Father-hood in their Parents Now it is as God would have it So when persons as in If from love of God the relation of Children do respect prise and love their Christian Parents the more because they love the Lord who requireth this at their hand now it is well a so or when an holy fear attendeth them lest not alone their good Parents hearts If from fear of Sin but lest the Lord also and his Spirit should any way be grieved or displeased by their expressing or carrying it towards them in any way contrary to due Honour of Parents they are afraid to carry it irreverently disobediently disrespectfully or ingratefully towards them even when some way tempted thereto lest the eyes of Gods glory should thereby be provoked now also it is well Or when at any time they espie any dishonourable If kindly broken and Abased when the contrary in them is discerned thought or stirring in their minds or spirits or take notice of some speech or carriage of theirs savouring of dishonour to Father or Mother and this melteth their hearts kindly before the Lord and maketh them ready to confess the same ingenuously to living Parents as well as to the Lord and that in all the aggravations thereof yea when a very shadow of such dishonour of Parents or the remembrance of any passages savouring thereof though past long ago and possibly before God touched their hearts effectually as well as since that these also are matters of heart Abasings breakings and bitter complaints before the Lord this argueth a good conscience in this particular also When they also do watch their spirits and hearts to keep them to the Rule as well as over If watching over their spirits also so that end their speeches gestures and actions to keep them as close as may be to that rule Honour thy Father and thy Mother this also argueth Honour of Father If there be no outward thing frighting or chiefly drawing to it and Mother from a good conscience In a word when there is no other thing of an inferiour nature either to affright and force them to it or on the other hand to bribe them to it as say riches preferments patrimony or the like humane Attractives and yet they are inwardly moved and strongly and prevailingly carryed out in a way of Honour of Parents All these do undoubtedly evince that now at least there is a blessed Spirit and habit of Honour of Parents wrought in such Children by the speciall efficacy of the Holy Ghost from which such do now at least Act in matters respecting their Parents Honour and that now at least a good conscience and conscience to God and to his Command doth set them about this blessed work The clearing of this first mark which indeed is the main of all might satisfie us but for further help in this discovery let us adde three or four marks of Honour rightly given to Parents A second mark then hereof is when Children 2. If holding up Parents Honour when aged and decayed are conscientiously carefull to hold up Parents Honour when they are Aged yea and when through infirmity Parents some way miscary As Sem and Japhet were cordially
yea also in those spirituall matters of their souls in the things and comforts of God and of his word and seals and services c. The way to have body and soul to do well and prosper yea the way to have God himself shining and smiling upon children to have Gods blessing upon childrens reading hearing and meditating of the word to have God answering even their prayers to have God ordering all things for good to them which befall them to have God to be with them and bless all they do take in hand to do well by them in life and death is to yeeld due and true obedience to Parents Prov. 15. 5. is verified in obedientiall hearkning to Parents counsels or rebukes the eare that heareth reproof abideth among the wise It is amonst the number of them else that care or person would not hearken but which is more it abideth among them such an one doth not apostatize from the company and condition of persons truly wise I fear if the bottom of the Apostasie of many promising professors now a daies were searched into this would be found there they were or are disobedient children to their parents but as for the obedient God is so well pleased with them that he thinks he can never deal well enough with them Now in the third place we shall make use of 1. Use of reproof of childrens this branch even of siliall obedience the use whereof serveth 1. For reproof and that first of children 1. Of such who in shew express obedience to 1. Pretended obedience your Parents commands but in reality do it not like the Son in the Parable who when bid by his Father to go and work in his Vineyard he saith I go Sir but went not Matth. 21. 30. Or if you do any thing which for the matter of it is injoyned by your Parents yet formally and properly it s not filial obedience but rather yeelding obedience to some lust of your own which biddeth you do such and such things which Parents enjoyn As when a covetous lust will put you on to do your Fathers will and work that you may have the gain of it or the like or if you do at length what Parents require in a better manner yet it may abase you that you did it not more readily and seasonably you first were too disobedient in your carriage like the Son in the parable that said at first he would not Matth. 21. 28 29. Afterward indeed he repented and went and so at last did the will of his Father But it was to him and by proportion should be to you a ground of penitent shame and sorrow that at first you were so disobedient 2. Of such children who are plainly disobedient 2. Disobedience to parents to your Parents and persist in it or at least continue too long in it without repentance for the same Some there are that when their Parents do even stoop somewhat below themselves and not command so much as intreat them to do this or that lawfull thing at their request yet will boldly deny their parents desires like the Elder Son in the Parable who when his Father commeth out to him and intreateth him to come in will not come in Luk. 15. 28 29. Some when their Parents would have them of an honest calling or course of life as more fit for that and such as may be more serviceable to God and men in it yet will not be ruled no they must take to some other course that their foolish hearts like better or else their Parents cannot be in quiet like Adonijah that contrary to God and his Father Davids mind would needs be a King when yet he was no way fitted for it 1 King 1. Some will like those in Gen. 6. 2. be matching but as themselves only foolishly fansie and Parents cannot be at rest for them but they must needs have such a one like Sampson Judg. 14. 2. He came and told his Father and Mother saying I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistins now therefore get her for me to wife and when his Parents wisely and faithfully replyed vers 3. Is there never a daughter among all my people that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistins Sampson saith to his Father get her for me for she pleaseth me or is right enough in mine eyes Some children are grown to such an height of disobedience as they are grown stubborn resolute wilful in their disobedience they are long habituated in it they will not now be counselled commanded reproved or corrected by Parents they are above that they are past that they will be no longer curbed or controlled not they by Mother or Father either but little do you consider what a black brand you do carry herein upon your selves of your reprobation and as a token thereof of your judiciall hardening It was said of Esau Esau have I hated or in my counsell rejected Rom. 9. and what a grief of mind was he to his Parents by disobedient carriage in his matches Gen. 26. When God hath a mind to ruinate Elies Sons as men of Belial whom he abhorred 1 Sam. 2. 25. It s said they hearkened not to the voyce of their Father they would on in their course say the old man what he will to the contrary because the Lord would slay them Their counsels commands checks rebukes yea and corrections too are not hearkened to but all slighted to make way for the fatall ruin of children devoted and destinated to saddest ends either by the hand of some enemies as in the case of Hophni and Phineas 1 Sam. 2. 25. compar'd with Chap. 4. 11. or by the hand of civill justice as Deut. 21. 20 21. they bring out their stubborn Son that will not be ruled by them and he is stoned to death sometimes by some more immediate hand of God as that disobedient yong man which would none of the voyce of his teachers parents or others he hated their reproofs c. He is smitten by dreadfull horror of conscience inwardly whence that dolefull mourning at last when it is too late Prov. 5. 11 12 13. and with lothsome diseases outwardly he even rotteth above ground and pineth away his flesh and body is consumed ibid. And hence we might give instances of very dreadfull examples of the lives and deaths of stubborn and disobedient children and what other can be expected when they are in that black rowl of persons given up of God to a reprobate mind Rom. 1. 28. He gave them up to a mind void of judgement to do those things which are not convenient being filled with all unrighteousness v. 29 c. disobedient to parents v. 30. 2. It serveth to reprove parents who any way 2. Of parents occasioning childrens disobedience 1. By abusing their Authority occasion disobedience in children 1. By abusing their authority in giving out unjust commands to them which the
precious daughter Ruth said even to her Mother in Law Naomi whither thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will lodge thy people shall be my people and thy God my God the Lord do so to me and more also if ought but death part thee and me Ruth 1. 16 17. so and much more if more may be would become every Son and Daughter even to ingage themselves and that for term of life to Honour their own Fathers and Mothers both in way of direct Honour by sharing with them in doing and suffering and by being tenderly respective and observant of them and usefull and serviceable to them wherever they become or into what condition soever the Lord may cast them and in a way of reflect Honour by personall and reall owning of their Godly Fathers and Mothers God and people that they shall be theirs And as Ruth fulfilled actually what she so solemnly ingaged that way so should any one Son or daughter much rather be to their own Father and Mother better every way than seven Sons Ruth 4. 15. Joseph also did not onely Honour his Father when he was a youth but continued honouring of his Father to the last so long as he had a Father left to Honour albeit long after he was married and so highly exalted witness that Gen. 46. 29. and 47. 31. and 48. 12. 3. It must be compleat and full not alone outwardly 3. Compleat but inwardly not in some lawfull and good things or way but in all and that in all places and upon all occasions yea every part of them which is capable of giving Honour to Parents must do their part of filiall homage and contribute their share to this common treasury of Honour in generall due to Parents Parents have been Fathers of the Childrens bodies and preparatory and effective instruments of the being of their souls in their bodies so that head tongue eyes cares hand and knee feet and the like bodily parts in their way and likewise the mind in its thoughts the understanding and judgement in its conceptions and apprehensions dictates and esteem the heart and will in its dispositions and affections c. All and each of these must render their proportions of due Honour to the instruments of their being hence that before mentioned of Solomon to his Son Prov. 23. 26. My Son give me thy heart and let thine eyes observe my wayes heart and eyes soul and body must joyn in filiall homage of his Son to him as his Father 4. It must be impartiall without respect to 4. Impartiall them as rich onely or otherwise great in the world or the like for if very poor their Honour from their Children must be never a whit the less if Mary the Mother of Christ be the espoused wife of Joseph a poor Carpenter it is all one to Christ as if she had been a Princes spouse he is subject to them as a child Luk. 2. 51. he went down with them to Nazareth and was subject to them the command of God knoweth no persons distinguisheth not of such a Father or such and such a Mother but chargeth the Child Honour thou thy Father and thy Mother be he or she poor or rich noble or ignoble high or low of meaner parts or of more accomplished abilities comely and personable or deformed and in stature more despicable yea be they of better and sweeter tempers or be they of a more harsh hasty and rigid disposition yet as servants must be subject to their Masters with all fear not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward 1 Pet. 2. 18. so must Children much rather give Honour to their Parents whether of better or worser tempers 5. It must be in a way of eminency being such 5. In a way of eminency Honour as is next in order to that Honour due to God himself the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 applied to persons or things in a way of good most frequently signifieth to make weighty in honour or glory or to give some eminent and transcendent measure of Honour and Glory hence that phrase 2 Cor. 4. 17. weight of glory Speaking of that surpassing glory of heaven the same Hebrew verb which is used in my Text is sometimes used for magnifying of God Psal 22. 23. Magnifie him all ye seed of Jacob as the Geneva translation well rendereth it or make him great ponderous weighty in glory but by our New translation it is commonly rendered glorisie or make glorious or eminently Honour So Psal 86. 9. they shall glorifie thy name and vers 12. I will glorifie thy name and Psal 50. 23. he glorifies me Levit. 10. 3. I will be glorified So. Ezek. 28. 22. The same verb here made use of to express the Honour of Parents as is to express the glory of God It sheweth evidently that it is no ordinary measure of Honour which Children owe to their Parents the very name and relation of a Father and Mother is a glorious thing and hath glory and excellency in it the word derived from this verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Text is used to denominate and point out peculiar excellency as Exod. 28. 2. Aarons garment must be made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for glory or garments of peculiar excellency Gen. 45. 13. shew him all my glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my eminency of Honours Authority Respect and the like and the verb it self is made such use of Esay 43. 3 4. thou hast been honourable or glorious as others render it or most eminent in Honour in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Psal 87. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 glorious things or matters of transcendent and renouned excellency are spoken of thee now the same word used here must needs note peculiar eminency of Honour of Parents to be due from their Children Let us now make application of what hath been spoken The use serveth 1. For Reproof and that 1. Use of Reproof 1. Of Children for dishonour of Parents 1. Of Children for their dishonouring slighting and despising of their Fathers and Mothers It was of old reproved sharply in those of Jerusalem in Ezek. 22. 7. Formerly mentioned In thee they have set light by Father and Mother Solomon brandeth the fool or unregenerate person for this as his vile property Prov. 15. 20. the foolish man despiseth his Mother this is point blanck crosse to the fifth Commandement It is highest injustice not to give even your Parents their due one should think none should cut their Parents short of their right now this Honour is their right and therefore it is highest injustice in any Child to debar them of their right The word in Ezek. 22. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is directly opposite to the Hebrew word used in my Text And it signifieth to make lighter or to make abatement of due weight or measure of any thing as say of Honour of credit of commodities or the like
It is used in Jonah 1. 5. For the Mariners lightning their ship by casting out the good wares in it as forced by a storm to do that which had they done in another case it had been manifest wrong and injustice to the owners of all others Parents should not be scanted and pinched and that by you their own Children of their just weight and measure but rather have it upheaped or pressed down or running over if God in other cases would have no unrighteousness in meteyards in weight or in measure but have just ballances just weights a just Ephah and a just Hin Levit. 19. 35 36. Much more would he have no unrighteousness in weight or measure here And if in other matters the scant measure be so abominable to God and good men Mic. 6. 10. Much more is a scant measure of filiall Honour But that we may the better meet with this sin in all sorts Here is to be reproved 1. Childrens slighting their Parents instructions 1. By slighting Parents instructions or rebukes directions reproofs or corrections this is made a black brand of a person yet unregenerate Prov. 15. 5. The Fool or unregenerate person despiseth his Fathers instruction Know it therefore who ever you are be your pretences to Religion whatsever they may be yet you are graceless persons who Honour not your Parents Counsels or instructions but slight and undervalue them this is made also the very trick of a scorner and that is somewhat worse Prov. 13. 1. a scorner heareth not rebuke-namely not of his own Father for it is opposed to that A wise son heareth his fathers instructions Yea this is made a very brutish sin Prov. 12. 1. he that hateth reproof is brutish And if the rejecting others just reproof be so inhumane so unreasonable a sin verily the contempt of parentall reproofs is so much rather I had almust said it is worse then brutish For the brute creatures as say young birds or beasts they do not sleight the hints which the old ones give them of what they should shun or what they should desist from or what way they should take or the like as experience witnesseth in many particulars I need not instance yea it is a deadly token of a person either already given up to hardness of heart and so to be ruined or of one that is at the brink of such a pit 1 Sam. 2. 25. It is said of Elias Sons whom he had even too gently reproved for their gross sins notwithstanding they harkned not unto the voice of their Father because the Lord would destroy them such persons do but even despise their own souls and their peace and welfare here and hereafter Prov. 15. 32. he that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul which if true of refusing others much more of refusing Parents good instructions one may safely say to any such Son or Daughter surely thou carest not what becometh of thy soul but let all such despisers of Parents counsels instructions or reproofs especially in matters respecting their souls I say let all such know tremble to consider it that all those despised instructions and reproofs will one day be as so many stings of Adders in your hearts the venome wherof will even drink up your spirits they wil be as so many viols of oyl to the flame in your fired consciences here or in hell or both which will make your tormenting flames more raging lasting and tormenting See in Prov. 5. 11 12 13. in the deboist youngster that never cared a pin for any counsels or rebukes which Parents Friends Masters or Ministers gave to him when in his ruff of vanity but when under Gods dreadfull hand and his conscience withall awakened then this is that in speciall which galleth him that he hath not inclined his eares to them which instructed him and so not to his very Parents also And thou mourn at the last when thy flesh and thy body are consumed and say how have I hated instruction and my heart despised reproof and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers nor inclined mine ear to them which instructed me 2. By slighting their Commands 2. It reproveth Childrens slighting Parents injunctions or commands Prov. 30. 17. The eye that despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the valley shall pick it out that is some suddain strange shamefull and remarkable Judgement of God in wayes and by means unlikely shall befall them and they that whil'st living would not honour Parents but despise them when they are dead they shall not be honoured as other men but like beasts rather then men they shall be cast out in contempt as not deserving the common Honour of rationall persons when dead to be buried As their sin is more unnatural and inhumane so shall their usage be when dead 3. It reproveth Childrens sleighting their Parents watch and government like the younger 3. By slighting their watch Son in the parable Luk. 15. 12 13. often made use of upon divers occasion in this discourse they must needs be for themselves and before they are fitted for it or called to it they will leave their Fathers but you may be reckoned with that prodigal to be persons that while besides your selves as the effect proved in him for he slighting his Fathers presence guidance and provision he was blasted in his way and soon took such loose courses as brought him low enough and the like will befall all such like youngsters in their way of flighting their Parents watch and government if Dinah paid so dearly for that little gadding fit of hers from her Fathers house as to fall under such sin and shame of being deflowred by a stranger Gen. 34. 1 2. What will be the sin and shame of such Sons or Daughters of whom we are now speaking It may be said of Children who out of some lust of pride or discontent will be leaving of Parents and forsaking their watch and tuition when they are not called to it 〈◊〉 in Prov. 27. 8. As a bird that wandreth from her neast so is a man that wandereth from his place the fittest best and safest place for the young bird is her neast where the old ones will be providing well for it and watching carefully of it that it come to no hurt but when the young bird before it be fitted to flie abroad with safety and strength to watch over it self or shift for it self yet will needs be hopping out of its neast and wandring thence it becommeth a prey to every bird of prey and commonly commeth by some means or other to ruine by it So if young persons will needs be leaving their Fathers house which is their neast and place before they are called to it or fitted for it mischief is commonly the issue of it As it is said of Cain in his case going out from his Fathers house that he went out from the presence of God so it may be said of Childrens leaving
recording their most usefull sayings Thus Solomon taketh this as Davids charge to him Prov. 4. 4. Let thine heart retain my words and the choicer passages thereof he records vers 5. such as those get Wisdome get Vnderstanding and other like golden Counsels vers 6 7 8 c. He giveth the like in charge to his Son vers 21. My Son attend unto my words keep them in the midst of thine heart See the like Prov. 3. 1. and 2. 1. and 6. 21. Cap. 7. 1 2 3. Herein Gods Childrens honour of respect and love to their heavenly Father is expressed that they make so much of his words and keep them as their treasure It is the like in the case of the Children of men towards their Parents 6. They are to prize and cleave to their good 6. In prizing Parents friends and Children Parents speciall friends Prov. 27. 10. Thy Fathers friend forsake not but especially they are to cleave to Brethren and Sisters of the same Parents 1 Pet. 3 8. Love as Brethren saith he in Saints cases but it is borrowed from that which is naturall to Brethren of the same Parents which is to love each other dearly it s else a dishonour to the Image of their Parents which is as one Common stamp upon them all so that if they love the one they must love the other whence also that by the same allusion when speaking of love to Gods Children 1 Joh. 5. 1. And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten he that loveth the Father begetting will love his Image in his begotten Moses thought it was a sufficient antidote against any thing contrary to love to those two Israelites that they were Brethren of one house yea of one Father even God why should they strive or wrong each other Acts 7. 26. 7. They are meekly and wisely to use all faithfull 7. In diswading Parents from soulevills and dangers endeavours to disswade Parents and to take them off from whatsoever might in danger their very souls welfare for that is love indeed Hence by allusion of such Children Hos 2. 2. Plead with your Mother plead saith God to the good Children of the Church Children may in such a way and must plead with their very Mothers Good Jonathan did wisely deal with his Father and said to him 1 Sam. 19. 4. Let not the King sin against his servant against David because he hath not sinned against thee and because his works have been to thee-ward very good c. 8 They are cordially to symphathize with 8. In sympathising with Parents their Parents in their joyes or sorrows Ge. 44. 34. How shall I go up to my Father and the Lad not with me lest peradventure I see the evill that shall come on my Father Gen. 37. 35. All Jacobs Sons and Daughters rose up to comfort him Use 1. Of Reproof of Childrens unnaturallness to Parents 1. Use of reproof 1. It serves to reprove such wretched Children who even in these very dayes of Gospel-light are without naturall affection to their Parents You have this charged upon the Heathen Rom. 1. 31. That they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 3 5. Chargeth it upon Christians also who had a form of godliness and I wish too many such were not to be found amongst Christians and such as would be thought some body for Religion Some indeed restrain this in 2 Tim. 3. 3. To Parents unnaturallness to Children which yet upon Rom. 1. 31. expound it of Childrens unnaturallnesse to Parents but there is no need to restrain it to either onely Parents or onely Children the word is the same in the Greek in both places and it s well known that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies most properly that affection of love whereby either Parents respect their Children or Children againe respect their Parents And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are persons without that affection whether they be Parents or Children and so in the Bible put out by the late synod they well note upon that Rom. 1. 31. That the sin there taxed by the Apostle did reign among the Gentiles who sacrificed in some places their aged Parents and sometimes their Children unto their Idols exposed them to ruine and destroyed them though not guilty of any capitall crimes and they refer to 2 Tim. 3. 3. as the same in sense but that part of unnaturalnesse which we here deal withall is that of the Children to the Parents though we acknowledge that all the aggravations of this sin deduceable from those two Scriptures are appliable as well to unnaturalness in Parents with which I deale not at present as to unnaturalnesse in Children of which I am now speakiag But that we lose not our bottome for the reproof are there not too many Children of Christians who are as those spoken of 2 Tim. 3. 3 4. Heady and unruly Children to their Parents Fathers and Mothers cannot shall not now rule Signes of it them their words they care not for and their blowes they as little regard are not these void of naturall affection to their Parents Some there are who are treacherous to their very Parents also Traytors they are called as 2 Tim. 3. 3 4. Such as Parents know not how to trust with their Counsels Secrets Estates or occasions they are so false to them as Micah complained in his time Micah 7. 5 6. and have these genuine affection to their Parents Some will cunningly draw their very Parents into some sinfull snares as some Sons and Daughters do Parents into errours Deut. 13. 6. or as Lots Daughters who drew him first to drink too much of their wine and then drew him into incest Gen. 19. 33 35. but do such love or are not they rather baters grand-enemies to their Parents Some there are who rise up against their good Parents and even for their goodness Some neglect to do for them in their needs Some there are who are ready to give reviling speeches to their Parents Exod. 21. to strike at them ibid. or to scoffe at them Prov. 30 17. or to imbesil or wast their estates Pro. 19. 26. or at least to wast their farthers viz. their Spirits hasten their end by their lewd courses and care not though they know what crosse courses they take do even break their Parents hearts yet will on But do any such as you are honour Parents with the Honour of respect and love Surely no you are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without filiall affection what ever your form of godliness may be to be sure it is without power 2 Tim. 3. 3 5. Such as you are make the times perilous vers 1. and you carry a very black Evills of it brand of persons given up to a reprobate mind for persons given up to a reprobate mind Rom. 1. 28. they are noted out to be without naturall affection vers 31. But wo be to all such
Children have nothing to give Parents to be a temptation to bribe their affections to them nor are they of any power to curb them any way to enforce respects to them and so they are more pure Whereas in both these regards Childrens respects to Parents may be leavened Yea Parents as Parents are instruments in Gods hands of their Childrens Souls being in their bodies and so of the faculties of their Souls and so of their naturall affections in them and of that affection of love and fear amongst the rest and therefore they may well chalenge the honourable improvement of them to themselves so far as God alloweth the same To conclude Children will never honour Parents with the honour of Reverence Obedience or Recompence or the like unlesse they give the honour of respect love due to them therefore give them this their due Now that Children may be helped and furthered in doing this Helps to it 1 Dread of the vile sin of unnaturalnesse 1. Possesse your hearts with a deep sense and dread of the heinous nature of the sin of unnaturalness which is wont to be accompanied with the vilest sins against God and Man as by comparing Rom. 2. 28 29 30 31 32. and 2 Tim. 3. 2 3 4. may be discerned Such persons who are without naturall affections commonly proving Blasphemous against God ingrateful to God and men unholy truce and Covenant-breakers whisperers back-biters false accusers of others they are commonly given to uncleanness and wantonness they are fierce and furious of a cruell Salvage unmercifull implacable spirit they are despisers of those that are good they are even haters of God they are haters of other men of a spightfull malicious quarrelsome and envious Spirit in a word They are full of all unrighteousnesse and deceit themselves and inventors of evill things evill opinions evill practises ringleaders in sin authors of sin to others If sundry of these scandalous persons in old and new England were closely search'd into they would be found to be persons who have been are unnaturall to their Parents 2. Take heed of any leading causes which breed and feed unnaturalness and undermine naturall 2. Avoiding causes of unnaturalnesse of affection as 1. Ignorance affection to Parents such as are 1. Ignorance of God and of his word and of the matters of Religion Rom 1. 31. without understanding without naturall affection if without understanding what wonder if without naturall affection 2. Self-love for they that are so full of self-love 2. Self-love have never a due proportion of love left for God or man for Parents or others 2 Tim. 3. 2. For men shall be lovers of themselves and verse 3. without naturall affection 3. A worldly covetous Spirit ibid. Covetous 3. Covetousnesse without naturall affection a Spirit of the love of the world will eat out as the love of the Father of our Spirits John 2. 15. so that of the Father of our flesh also whose Fatherhood is an Image of that in God Such if they shew respect to Parents it is but for their own advantage and gaine and if the respect to them may not stand with their gain or must be to their outward losse then adieu respect to Parents 4. A proud Spirit 2 Tim. 3. 3 4. Without naturall affection high-minded Absolom who was so Pride high-minded what wonder is it if he prove so unnaturall to his Father 5. A Voluptuous Spirit ibid. Without naturall affection lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God Voluptuousnesse They that respect their pleasures so much they never respect God as they shold nor their parents Esaus inordinatenesse of affection to his hunting brings him to that Gen. 25. that he despiseth his birth-right as his Fathers eldest Son and therein virtually despiseth his Father and his voluptuous desires after the Canaanitish women make him carelesse of grieving his Father and Mother and so far unnaturall to them Gen. 26. 3. Getting their hearts truly turned to the Lord. 3. Labour to get your hearts turned to God effectually and in love with him as a Father and then whatsoever alienations of heart there were in you from your Parents before yet then Childrens hearts will be also turned fully to your good Parents Ma. 4. 6. Jo. Baptist its said by the blessing of grace upon his Ministry turning persons to the Lord to the faith to the wisedome of the Just as Luke hath said it Luk. 1. 17. he shall turn the hearts of the Children to their good Fathers which whilest the Children were wicked they could not well abide to be controuled reproved curbed and corrected as they were by them and so their good Fathers also whose hearts were much taken off from those Children for their vilenesse should be turned towards their Children or as some say the unnaturall distances bred betwixt Parents and Children by many sects and opinions too rife among the Jewes when by sound doctrine they were brought to rights and to the truth those alienations should be healed Only Cautions about Childrens love to Parents 1. Not such as to approve sin in Parents in the love of Children to Parents let these cautions be observed 1. Look that it be not such as to approve of the evill saiyings principles or practises of your ungodly or of your seducing or seduced Parents It s blamed in them Psal 40. 13. their posterity approve their sayings Jer. 7. 18. The Children gather wood and the Fathers kindle a fire and the women knead the dough to make Cakes to the Queen of heaven 2 King 15. 13. Asaph loved his Mother well as his Mother but he hateth her Idol he destroyeth and burneth it Abraham loveth his Father Terah well but will not go after his way of Idol-worship Josh 24. 2 3. God commendeth it in the Son who seeth all his fathers sins and considereth and doth not such like Ezek. 18. 14. 2. Let it not be such as to follow their evill Of 2. Such as to follow their sinfull Counsell Counsel in any thing as Ahaziah who walked in the waies of Ahab for his Mother was his Consellour 2 Chron. 22. 3. And as Herodias who being before instructed of her Mother said to Herod give me here John Baptists head in a charger Mat. 14. 8. 3. Let it not be so as to keep their dangerous Or 3. Such as to keep their sinfull Counsel and wicked Counsel in any way of wickednesse but rather seasonably to reveal it Michol Sauls Daughter did well in this to tell her husband David of her Fathers Sauls bloody design against him so that he escaped 1 Sam. 19. 11 12. The like did Jonathan to David Cap. 20 3 4. 4. That it be not so as when you are called of Or 4. Not to bear seasonable witness against their evils God to it then not to bear seasonable witnesse against their sin as in case of Parents seducing Children from the Lord and his
to keep his due order in your hearts words and wayes and what remedy of any soul-mischiefs where conscience is put out of its place surely if ever God mean your souls good he will put conscience again into is place 5. Is not this to disgrace the wayes and word 5. It is the casting of dirt upon Gods wayes of God and to cast dirt upon them and to make the world believe that upon triall you find them not worth the looking after or cleaving too hence that querie made to those degenerate ones Mic. 2. 7. Do not my words do good to them that walk uprightly You by your course would make men believe otherwise but is not the affirmative the very truth that they do good indeed to them that keep close to them God therefore chargeth those Apostate and degenerate Jewes Psal 50. 16 17. With contemptuous casting his words behind their back as refuse things as words that have no Authority over them to curb and controll them in their wayes and just so do you deal with Gods words but will God think you take this well at your hands and not make you as well as those Psal 50. 21. to know it to your cost 6. Is not this to deal worse with God his truth 6. It is worse dealing with God than Idolaters deal with their Idols and wayes than ever Idolaters dealt with their Idols and Idoll worship as God reasoneth with those degenerate ones in Jer. 2. 9 10 11. hath a Nation changed their Gods which yet are no Gods It is also to deal worse with Gods word truth than Heretiques and Opinionists do with their Heresies and Errors who are wont to hold them stedfastly and constantly as that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used in Revel 2. 14. signifieth which hold Balaams doctrine that is hold it fast hold it strongly and unmovably and must not this be very evill in Gods sight 7. Is not this to put your godly instructors 7. It is to make all godly instruments to be losers Parents Ministers c. to saddest loss even to lose the spirituall things which instrumentally they have wrought in you as it is said 2 Joh. 8. Look to your selves that we lose not the things which we have wrought and must not this also be very evill in Gods sight 8. In a word is not this to play the beasts and 6. It is to play the very Beasts to fulfill that proverb the dog is turned to his vomit and the washed sow to her wallowing in the mire 2 Pet. 2. 21 22. When as in former times you were so far inlightned and wrought upon that out of trouble for your sins you cased your selves of them and cast them off and washed and purified your outward course and conversation but now have defiled your selves again with them and can this be other than loathsome to the pure eyes of the Lord And now having represented to degenerate Mischiefs attending the degeneration of the children of the godly in generall ones in generall and speciall the evill of sin which is in their degeneration let me also shew them the mischiefs attending the same And first those which attend degeneration in generall Now all degeneration of such Children of the Church and of the godly being a sin against more light means and offers of grace yea more grace it self it is therefore the greater sin and must assuredly provoke the Lord to more fierce displeasure against degenerate ones than against others the servant which knew his Masters will and did it not is beaten with more stripes Luke 12. 47. Hence when God speaketh of that degenerate brood of Children in whom was no trustiness no faith Deut. 32. 20. vers 19. He saith and when the Lord saw it he abhorred them because of the provocation of his Sons and Daughters And it is given by God as a generall threat Heb. 10. 38. If any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him but that we may press on a little here let all or any such degenerate off-spring of the godly know 1. That God taketh exact notice of all your 1. God layeth up this their sin against an evill day degenerate Acts he narrowly and throughly eyeth them and layeth them up against a season of Justice thus God concludeth concerning their degenerating De. 32. 34. Is not this laid up in store with me among my treasures and vers 35. their foot shall slide in due time the day of their calamity is at hand 2. That you cannot have any just excuse for any 2. They can have no excuse for this their sin such degenerating of yours yea such like words and warnings which you have had to the contrary now or at any other time will one day come in as evidences against you Deut. 31. 19. 21. That warning Song and Sermon of Moses at the plaines of Moab it s said should testifie against them as a witness in case of their degeneration and Apostacy from the good wayes of God 3. That the evils of sins of omission or commission 3. The sins of succeeding posterity will be charged upon them in the posterity which doth succeed you will be charged also upon your accounts as occasioned by your unfaithfulness and degeneration God in making search into mens sins doth it that he might give to every man according to the fruit of his doings as well as according to his wayes so that if that be the fruit of your degenerate doings that being unfaithfull in the charge of God and godly Ancestors and Parents under God which they committed to your trust also your posterity and the succeeding generations become profane irreligious superstitious erroneous or hereticall God will render to you also according to these fruits of your doings you shall be accounted and proceeded against as children that are gone backward and corrupters thereby also as well as otherwise of others Isay 1. 4 5. As it was sometimes charged upon Lachish possibly in respect of the Apostacy of the Danites the Antient Inhabitants thereof Judg. 18. That it was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion for the transgression of Israel was found in her Mic. 1. 13. So in like sort will you be charged as the beginners of the sins of your posterity And alas have you not sins enough of your own to Answer for but must you answer for others sins also 4. That Gods judgements will be more bitter 4. Gods punishments both of losse and sense will be most sad and bitter to such and sad to you than to others In that punishment of loss when the degenerate children of the Lords Kingdome shall be cast out of it Mat. 8. 11. There amongst them shall be sorest weeping gnashing of teeth the sorest sharpest and vexingst griefs are with them you will be ready to curse the day that ever you came of such good Ancestors and Parents that ever you had so
Covenant may be attended by their Children and so the whole Covenant fully effected in the promised mercies of it also to them and to their Children Now this duty of good education of Children being so weighty and being a furtherance to the other duty in hand even Childrens beeing an honour Rules concerning good education of Children to their Parents every way besides former things occasionally hinted Let us here propound 1. Some few rules about it 2. Some motives to it As for Rules about education 1. Let Parents wisely observe and pry into the 1. Observe the genious bent and capacity of Children genius as I may call it and bent and capacity of their Children which way they are most biased in their spirits and of what they are most capable Prov. 20. 11. Even that Child is known by his doings whether his work be pure or whether it be right that is as is well noted in the Synod Bible Children shew betimes whether they be inclined to good waies or bad and must be dealt withall accordingly When Themistocles was a very boy Plutarch tells us that he would not play with the boys but compose their differences So Alexander the great when he was a boy at play with other boys and was asked whether he would wrestle after the manner of the Olympick games yes gladly saith he If I might wrestle with a King Such speaking signes gave they of an Heroick and Princely Spirit when they were little and so many others do no doubt in other things 2. When Parents by wise observations do perceive 2. Carry it wisely and suitably towards them as that their disposition requireth the bent and bias of their Children now let them carry it towards them accordingly If they be strongly bent to some vice more than others as Lying as it is said of some Psalm 58. 3. They go astray from their birth speaking lies admonish them betimes in the evill of it represent to them what God speaketh in especiall wise against it what sad examples and sequels in Scripture and otherwise both in poynt of sin and in point of judgements are found thereof after which course taken then watch them the more narrowly and spare them not for it if they fall into lying again and do the like in case of a slandering disposition or of a venerious or lustfull disposition or a proud spirit shewing its lofty bent after gay apparell great and high things in the world or a covetous spirit shewing it self in expressions of a greedy having and craving spirit in them when Children in a gripple and nigardly temper and the like or a scoffing spirit or a profane spirit or an intemperate spirit in matter of meat and drink or a whimficall brain-sick disposition even in their Childhood and youth spare no seasonable rebukes or correction whereby to curb such vile dispositions in them seasonably and thoroughly Prov. 23. 13 14. With-hold not correction from the child thou shalt beat him and save his soul from hell and 22. 15. folly is bound up in the heart of a child but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him It 's Gods ordinance for the seasonable and true redress of such evill dispositions and the cure of such distempers of nature If Cham had curb'd that slandring disposition earlier in his Son Canaan it had been better for them both if Isaac had seasonably curb'd Esau's voluptuous disposition Gen. 25. 25. And David Amnons lustfull disposition that mischief had not fallen out in both their Families mentioned Gen. 26. 35. and 2 Sam. 13. 1 2 4 15 17. If the Jewes had curb'd those buddings out of their sons and daughters pride or Josiah had done so with that of his Children the whole Land had not so sinned and smarted by it as it did Esay 3. 5 16 17. and Zeph. 1. 8. If Absoloms aspiring spirit had been seasonably observed and crushed by David in his child-hood and youth It had never grown so impetuous and mischievous as is spoken 2 Sam. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 11 12 13 c. It was those Jew parents horrid sin that they were covetous themselves and so rather cherished than curbed a covetous spirit in their Children untill the Lord seeing them all from the greatest to the least eldest to the youngest given to covetousness he undertaketh the punishing thereof to their cost Jer. 6. 13 c. If those parents who might well enough have discerned a jeering spirit in those boyes before it brake out so far as afterwards had seasonably curbd it in them the wild bears of the wood had never been such executioners of the Prophets just curse against them for that flout of theirs come up thou bald-head come up thou bald-head 2 Kings 2. 23 24. And doubtless that was not the first time that the blasphemous Son of the Israelitish woman mentioned Levit. 24. 10 11. had declared the profaness of his Spirit which if timely corrected and curbed It had not broken out in so capitall a way as then it did And I might say the like of all other folly or foolish dispositions which are in Childrens hearts naturally which as they outwardly appear if duly corrected and curbed they would be removed or driven far away Prov. 22. 15. If Children either by common or saving influences of the Spirit are more ingenuous spirits and of better and more hopefull dispositions Oh let parents as they discern the same incourage the same all the prudent and pious wayes that may be thus wise and gracious Rebeccah perceiving in her Son Jacob the specimen and signall tokens of a plain honest single open-hearted spirit she expresseth and enlargeth her love far more to him than to her Eldest Son Esau whom she perceived to be of a more haughty and voluptuous spirit Gen. 25. 27 28. and amongst other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tokens by which to Judge and accordingly to incourage such laudable ingenuity and hopefull disposition of Children or youth mind and observe the nature and scope of their questions and how ready they shew themselves thereby to search and seek after and to understand the best things and of weightier concernment to their souls as a worldly covetous frame of heart is discovered by answerable questions whence that character given of worldlings there be many that say who will shew us any good even any worldly good Psal 4. 6. and as their graceless spirit is described by their omission of enquiries and asking after God Esay 65. 1. So an inquisitive disposition after soul-matters in Children as a better and more hopefull Omen in them is to be incouraged by parents Exod. 12. 26. and 13. 24. Josh 4. 21. when thy Son shall ask thee in time to come what meaneth this or that then you shall say the Lord did thus and thus so let parents mind and encourage some better speeches which sometimes beyond expectation will fall from very Children those rarer speeches and answers of