TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, THE LORD ROBERT DEVOREVX, Earle of Essex and Ewe, Vicount Hereford, and Bourchier, Lord Ferrers and Chartly, Lord Bourchier, and Louaine, Knight of the noble Order of the Garter, Master of her Maiesties Horse, and one of her Maiesties most Honorable priuie Councell: grace and peace be multiplied.
IT is a matter of great waight, and necessarie duety, Right Honorable, to consider wisely, and to iudge rightly of the workes of God, in the euent of thinges which happen vnto
[Page]men. For as it is written in the Psalmes:
Psal. 145.17.
The Lord is righteous in all his waies, and holy in all his workes. And againe:
107.43.
VVho is wise that hee may obserue these things? for they shall vnderstand the louing kindnesse of the Lorde. And againe:
92.6.
An vnwise man knoweth it not, and a foole doth not vnderstand this. And seeing
Rom. 11.36. all thinges are of him, and thorow him, & for him, and
1.
Sam. 2.9. in his owne might no man shall bee strong: but
Psalm. 75.7.
& 33.11. God is Iudge, hee maketh low, he maketh high; and that the counsell of the Lorde shall stand for euer, & the thoughtes of his hart,
Gods prouidence in all things is to be obserued. thoroughout all ages: euery man ought carefully to regarde the prouidence of
[Page]God, in the thinges befalling to himself and others, which I find very fruitfully obserued by the holy seruaunts of GOD in the Scriptures. As Ioseph, when he sawe his Fathers house, in the time of the greate famine, to come into Egypt to buy foode, comforteth his brethren, who of enuie had solde him thither, with this obseruation, saying:
Gen. 45.5.
Bee not sad, neither grieued with your selues, that ye sold me hither: for God did sende me before you, for your preseruation. And Dauid comforteth himselfe, and stayeth the rage of his seruaunt, against the cursing of Shimei, by this consideration, saying,
2.
Sam. 16.12
Jt may bee that God will looke vpon
[Page]mine affliction, & do me good for his cursing this day. So Mordecai encourageth Ester, to make supplication to the king (though it were contrarie to lawe, and in hazard of her life) in the behalf of the Iewes, who were appointed to die by wicked Haman: by such a wise collectiō among other wordes, saying:
Ester. 4.14.
VVho knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdome for such a time? In like sorte, when I thinke vpon your honor, remembring what I haue heard of your noble Father, that good Erle, in the time of his last sicknes, & of his godly care ouer his children: comparing thereunto how God hath preserued you vnto this time,
[Page]what speciall fauour you haue attained before so gracious a Prince, in what an high & waigh tie place you are set, & in what yeares of your age these things are befallen you, together with the blessed giftes by which you are fitted thereunto: mine hart is touched with a comfortable hope, that the Lords grace working effectually in you, and his heauenly spirite directing you: you might be a worthie instrument, in faithfull and wise seruice to her maiesty for the good of this common-wealth, & the churches of Iesus Christ among vs. For if
1.
King. 18.4. Obadiah vnder wicked Ahab, could keepe from Iezebel, and feede an hundreth
[Page]Prophetes: and
Iere. 38.8.9. Ebedmelech could obtaine of that euill king Zedekiah, to deliuer Ieremie out of the dungeon, into which he was cast by the Princes with the kings consent: and
Nehem. 2. Nehemiah could apply the fauour he had with that heathenish King Artashasht, to the building of the walles of Hierusalem: who can tell? but that much more, such a noble man of Christian knowledge, aduanced by God into the fauour of so Christian and religious a princesse, may likewise performe some seruice of great importance, to the Church of God and his countrie.
And verily if God
Pr
[...]u. 18.4. made all
[Page]for himselfe,
Euery man ought to serue God, according to his place & giftes. and his elect
Ephe 1, 6. for the glorie of his grace,
Act. 17.26. assigning the times, which were ordained before, and the bounds of mens habitation, that they should seeke the Lord: and if he haue
Math. 25.14. giuen euery man a talent, whereof hee must render an account; then ought euerie man
1.
Cor. 7.17.24 so to walke, as God hath distributed to euery man, as the Lorde hath called euery one, and therein to abide with God. Therfore
1.
Sam. 15. Saul, without reseruing of any spoyle, by any pretence, must bee obedient to the voyce of the Lord, in the vtter destroying of Amalecke; because God had annoynted him to be king, & called him thereunto.
[Page]And Dauid,
2.
Sam. 12. though hee were a man after Gods heart: yet because he forgate his aduancement by God, & his great benefits, and by deflowring his neighbours wife, &c. disobeied God, and caused the enemies of God to blaspheme: was reproued sharply & punished seuerely. And thou O meeke
Num. 30.12 Moses, what kept thee out of the lande of promise? And thou O wise
1.
King. 11. Salomon, what made thy latter dayes troublesome, and a breach in thy kingdome? And thou O good
1.
King. 22. Iehoshaphat, what brought thy life in hazard? was it not, that God, who exalted you in honour,
Who so honor not God are plagued. was not sanctified by your seruice? If
[Page]God thus deale with his owne
1.
Pet. 4.17. house, where shall the vngodly and sinners appeare?
Philip. 3.19. whose God is their bellie, who
Haback. 1.16. sacrifice to the net of their own policies, and honour the
Luk. 16.13. God riches, but
Exod. 5.2. know not the Lord, who giueth them all things abundantly to enioy?
Rom. 1.24. God giueth them ouer to their owne lusts,
Iob. 5.14. they meete with darknes in the day time, and grope at noone day as in the night, some by
2.
Sam. 17.23 their policie make an halter to hang themselues, some in the
Dan 5. middest of their iolitie, haue the ioynts of their loynes loosed and their knees smitten one against another, and some are
Psal 53.5.
Prouerb. 28.1. afeard where there is no feare,
[Page]and flye when no man pursueth them. And
Esay 5.24. as the flame of fire deuoureth the stubble, and as the chaffe is consumed of the flame; so their roote shall bee rottennes, and their bud shall rise vp as dust, because they haue cast off the lawe of the Lord of hosts, &c. that it might stand as an vnchaungeable decree of the hie God, the possessor of heauen and earth; concerning the wicked & the true seruants of God:
1
Sam. 2.30. The feare of God rewarded
Them that honor me, I will honor, and they that despise me, shall be despised. So did the Lord aduance vertuous
Gen. 45. Ioseph, before all his brethren, he
Exod. 1.21. made houses to the widowes, who feared God in Egypt, and
[Page]deliuered
Iere. 39.16. Ebedmelech in the day of euill. Therefore, for the comfort of all them, that walke according to their gifts & callings with God, it is written:
Psal. 33.18.
Behold the eye of the Lord is vpon thē that feare him, and vpon them that trust in his mercie, to deliuer their soules from death, and to preserue them in famine. For this cause (right Honorable) haue I presumed to dedicate this small booke to your Honour, not onely because I am perswaded of your fauorable acceptation, but also that by mee being one among many, you might know what hope and expectation there is, among her Maiesties most faithfull subiects concerning
[Page]you: that your yong yeres being sanctified, and (
1.
Ioh. 2.14. as S. Iohn saith) being strong & the word of God abiding in you, and hauing ouercome the wicked, you might amōgst other graue and wise counsellors, bee a ioyfull labourer in all good causes, and a prosperous furtherer of things concerning God, to the great ioy, peace and honor, of her most excellent maiestie, and that by the mouthes of many her louing subiects, prayses may redound to the glorie of God, and that you may glorie in his praise. And here I humblie craue your Christian fauour, to giue mee leaue to tell you, what the Lorde speaketh
[Page]vnto you. For me thinketh I heare him speake vnto you, as he did vnto Ioshuah and Abraham:
Ioshu. 1.
Be thou strong and of a most valiant courage, that thou mayst obserue and doe according to al the law, which Moses my seruant hath commanded thee: thou shalt not turne away from it, to the right hād, nor to the left, that thou maist prosper whither soeuer thou goest. I will be with thee, J will not leaue thee, nor forsake thee.
Gen. 15.1.
& cap. 17.1.
Feare not, J am thy buckler and thine exceeding great reward. J am God alsufficient, walke before me and bee vpright. Now this little booke of houshold instruction, I tender vnto your Honors protection; nothing comparable to
[Page]the profound works set foorth by rare and singular men, but as a little candle to bee placed in the midst of the house, to giue light to all them that are therein. And as in the worke of the materiall Temple vnder Salomon,
2.
Chron. 2.2. hewers of stones had a necessary vse: so this little book may bee some good helpe, to prepare the seueral members of the familie, for the skilfull builders, that is, the
1
Pet. 2.5. faithful ministers, to be ioined as liuely stons in the spirituall temple of God. For as the Psalmist doth testifie:
Psal. 119.130
The entrance into Gods wordes sheweth light, and giueth vnderstanding vnto the simple. And our Sauiour teacheth, that there is a
[Page]secret working in his kingdom, like the growing of the
Mat. 13.3
[...]. small graine of mustard-seed, and as a little leauē hid in three pecks of meale: So
1.
Cor. 1.27. God hath chosen foolish thinges of the world to confound the wise, & God hath chosen weake thinges of the world to confound the mighty, &c. And to whom should I offer the booke of teaching the familie? but euen to him, whose houshold being well instructed, ordered, & guided, may diuers waies doe good vnto many of all estates and degrees: yea euen to him, who knoweth verie well, how needfull a thing it is in regarde of the Commonwealth: which in troublesome
[Page]times doth find, that a Christian Prince cannot be sure of such a peoples faithfulnes, in dayes of triall: whose bellies being fedde with the fatte of the earth, haue mindes vnsetled; and for lacke of the knowledge of Christ, and the feare of God, are apt to go after the sway of time, and to bee led as beastes by the bellie, where most ease, gaine, & pleasure shall draw them. Therefore nothing doubting, but that your godly wisedom, and good knowledge of Christ Iesus, will graciously receiue any thing, that may be helpful to Christian religion and godlines: I present this little booke vnto your Honour, with al humblenes and
[Page]good will in the Lord; leauing the successe vnto him, in whose handes are the
Psalm. 31.15. times of all things, and
1.
Cor. 3.7. who onely giueth increase. Most meekely praying his diuine goodnes to make you honorable in this world, in all pietie and Christian vertues, to the glory of his name, the honour of your Prince and countrey, and to the reioycing of all good christians: & in the world to come, to bee partaker of his glory: who shall be glorified in his Saintes, and made marueilous in all that beleeue. Amen. At Eastwell in Kent this 26. of Februarie. Anno 1596.
Your Honours alwaies to command in Christ Iesus: IOSIAS NICHOLS.
To all gouernours of Families,
grace and peace, &c.
I Very well remember, my welbeloued country mē, ye that are gouernours of families, that he was a wise Preacher, that sayde:
Eccles.
12.12.
There is no ende in making many bookes. And that many very good and excellent Catechismes are published in our English tongue: being not onely very profitable for Christians, to exercise themselues in: but also most notable tokens of the Christian care and loue, of diuers learned and godly minded men, toward their neighbors and countrie. Yet haue I some good reasons (as I thinke) to put foorth this little booke of mine as a mite, in comparison of the greatest gifts of other men, who by their excellent workes, haue greatly replenished the Lords treasurie. First, because that I finde that the Lord in the building of his Church vseth the diuers gifts of
[Page]his seruants, to expresse his manifold wisedom. And as vnto men of diuers complexiōs and affections, he hath giuen choise of meate and varietie of apparell: so, many bookes to one end are set foorth in diuers fashions and with a diuers gift, order and facilitie: that hee whome one booke sauoureth not, might yet like the taste of another. So it may bee, that I striuing to enter into the lowest place of the Church, which is the familie; and applying my selfe to the meaner sort, may happily finde a place to doe good vnto some, where books of greater excellencie, peraduenture are not entertained: and ioyning hands with my good brethren, who haue sorted themselues to the same standing place, may by ioynt working with them, peraduenture further their ioy, as they doe mine. Secondly, because I haue some experience in this order, that it may prepare them, which are hereby instructed, to haue their eyes open to other mens labours. And I am in great hope, that a discreet teacher shall finde by triall, that a childe of very tender yeres may be made able, through Gods blessing, with vnderstanding to giue a good reckoning of his faith, by the Scriptures. Moreouer, my purpose was not, curiously to set downe all points of doctrine, but especially those, which doe most neerely teach these two:
Act.
20.21.
Repentance towards God and faith in Iesus Christ. And my desire was that these might be made to appeare
[Page]easie and familiar by the Scriptures.
But aboue all other this moued mee most, that I might haue occasion to speake some things to the gouernours of the families, which doe very greatly affect my minde. Which is not to proue it their duties, to catechise their families, or to describe the houshold gouernment, & diuers such things which I know to be very excellently penned downe by others: but onely to lay before them, the great necessitie of this dutie, and the great and honorable seruice, which a priuate man may doe, to God and his people, by this meanes. In doing whereof, I thought no better meane, then the setting foorth of an easie way, to doe the thing, to which I desire earnestly to perswade them.
The necessitie will be seene,
Necessitie to teach housholdes. if they obserue with me two things, the time present, and the time likely to ensue. In the first they shall finde, that although wee haue had the Gospell, by the mercie and long suffering of God seuen and thirtie yeares, vnder the happie raigne of our most deare and gracious Soueraigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth, (who, I heartily pray our good God, may yet raigne many yeares ouer vs) there are to bee found so many that know not how they shall bee saued, or how they are iustified, why they are called Christians, what is Christ in his person, and such like (which
Hebr.
6.1.2. Psalm.
49.20. euery beginner and yongling in Christ ought to be
[Page]skilfull in;
Lamentable ignorance among vs. and without the knowledge whereof a man is like a bruit beast) that I doe tremble to thinke, and am ashamed to vtter, and dare not commit to writing my knowledge herein. I haue had conference in some parishes with
400. some,
1000. some lesse, and haue made triall, and do make triall euery day, that I speake to any man, whom I knowe not, that I am astonished to thinke, that so many Christians in name, and baptized, should bee so ignorant and brutish, and so farre from being indeede, that which they delight to bee called. For I take it, that
Galat.
3.26. faith maketh the being of a Christian, and these
Rom.
10.14. who haue no knowledge cannot haue faith, which will then appeare,
2. Thess
1.8. when Christ shall come in flaming fire, to render vengeance to them that do not know God. Therfore there is a great fault, whether it be in vs Ministers, or in you the masters of families, or in both, the Lord bee mercifull vnto vs, our danger is very great: for it is written,
Rom.
1.23.
As they regarded not to know God, so God deliuered them vp vnto a reprobate minde, &c. Therefore it is a thing of necessitie, that such as keepe houses, should traine vp their people cōmitted to their charge,
Many Ministers teach not. in the knowledge of the Gospel. Againe, we that are Ministers, for the most part, are very vntidie for these workes, which might preuent this mischiefe.
7. Tim.
4.10. Some imbracing this present world, and some being
Math.
15.14. blind leaders of
[Page]the blinde. Therefore the masters of families looking not vnto this matter, the case is become lamentable. The time likely to ensue may bee very much iudged by the present.
Coldnes in religion. Notwithstanding that God hath warned vs, to make more reuerent regard of his Gospell, by windes and vnseasonable weather, by diuers sicknesses, by the plague and dearth & feare of the sword, not once nor twise within these fewe yeares: yet the great carelesnes and coldnes (that I say not contempt) of religion, may hereby appeare, that Atheisme, dronkennes, and other very great sinnes, are waxen bold and shameles, and he that feareth an oth, and taketh great paines to bee instructed in Christ Iesus, suffereth no small molestation. What may we then looke for? but as these former corrections, haue brought vs no one iot neerer to repentance, or loue of Gods word, so the Lord will yet stretch out his hand against vs. And what can we tell, that if other temporall plagues moue vs not, but that he will take away his word from an vnthankfull nation,
We may seare the losse of the gospell. and giue it to another that will bring foorth better fruites? If we that be Ministers ouerstip these things, how can they be repaired, but by the instruction of families. And many times when we take great paines, the backwardnes of the masters doth pull downe all that wee build. Therefore it is of great necessitie, that the gouernours of housholds should stirre vp
[Page]themselues to this duetie.
Now the honorable seruice, which a priuate man may do to God and his Church,
Teaching the familie honorable seruice to God. appeareth in this; that such as traine their families in these good grounds, bring foorth an holy generation to the Church, and a ciuill nation to the Common-wealth; which doth not a little shewe it selfe to Gods glorie, and the praise of the Gospell, in our owne experience. Whereof the example of
Ioshua and his familie,
Cornelius and his souldiers,
Abraham and his three hundred and eighteene, brought vp in his house, are as sufficiēt testimonies. How are the names of many priuate men and women for their seruice in the Church, commended by Saint
Paul, and registred to immortall fame and example of all professors,
Priuate men and women may greatly further the Church.
Rom. 16. So that among many he acknowledgeth, that all the Churches of the Gentiles were to bee thankefull to one
Aquila and
Priscilla his wife. And God doth so farre honour the house of
Ierem.
35.
Rechab, that he poynteth it out, and setteth it foorth, to be an euerlasting paterne, of the notable fruite of good gouernours of families. And as
Exod.
35.25. women did worke diuers things for the tabernacle, in the daies of Moses: and as the
1. King.
5. temple was not built, but by men of all sorts in the time of
Salomon: and the
Nehem.
3. walles of Ierusalem vnder the guiding of
Nehemiah: So may priuate men very much further the building of the spirituall temple,
[Page]which is the congregation of Christ.
The Churches spring out of instructed families. And as out of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacobs house, sprang forth the Churches of the Iewes: so the glorious congregations of the Gentiles, began in the families: For if seruants well nurtured
Tit.
2.10. may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all thinges: and
1. Pet.
3.1. husbands obeying not the worde, may without the word be wonne, by the conuersation of the wiues: how much more may the master of the familie doe vnto God and his Church honorable seruice? not only by sanctifying his house by the word of faith; but also by hauing alwaies in a readines, very notable matter to further the building of Gods dwelling place. Which thing is auouched to thee by
2. Tim.
1.5. and
3.15. with Act.
16.1. young
Timotheus, who being brought vp in the holy Scriptures from a childe, vnder his faithfull grandmother
Lois, and his mother
Eunice, when he was yet a very young man, became a companion of the Apostle Saint
Paul, in that great and waightie worke of planting Churches. And
Act.
18.24.
Apollos cōfirmeth the same, who being an eloquent man and mightie in the Scriptures, was yet more perfectly instructed in the way of God, by the house of a craftsman: by whom not onely they which beleeued thorow grace, were very much holpen; but also the aduersaries of Christ were mightily confuted by the Scriptures.
Moreouer, I pray you to marke diligently,
[Page]how that the disorder of one priuate familie,
One familie well or ill ordered, may saue or destroy both Church & Commonwealth. namely, of one
Iudg.
17. &
18.
Micah of Ephraim, was an occasion that Idolatrie did spread thorowe the whole tribe of
Dan: and so continued many yeares. And so contrarily,
cap.
6. &
7. &
8.
Gideon being stirred vp by the goodnes of God, to the reformation of one meane familie in
Manasseh, was the cause of a very great deliuerance to the whole nation, from most mightie and cruell enemies, and most abominable Idolatrie, for the space of
40. yeares. Where were those
1 King
14.14.18.
7000. in the daies of
Eliah, that had not bowed the knee to
Baal: when he thought there were none left in Israel that feared God? were they not in the well instructed families? Whence came it that
Gen.
37. &
38. &
39. &c.
Ioseph in his youth being sold vnto strangers, passed thorow so great temptations, the comfortles prison, the stocks & iron, to be so worthie a father of the Common-wealth of Egypt, & so good a nurse to the people of God? Ica name no other outward meanes, but his good education in the familie of the faithfull. Hence is it written:
Eccles.
4.13.
Better is a poore and wise child, then an old and foolish king, which will no more bee admonished: for out of the prison hee commeth for to raigne, when hee that is borne in his kingdome is made poore. Therefore God commādeth his people,
Deut.
11.18.
to lay vp his words in their harts, and in their soules, &c. and to teach them their children, speaking of them when
[Page]they sit in their house, and when they walke by the way, and when they lye downe, and when they rise vp, &c. that their dayes may be multiplied and the dayes of their children, &c. Behold then what good may come out of a well instructed familie, namely, that it may bee the preseruing of the countrie and Church, in the time of extreame daunger and darknes, the seedplot against the time of reformation, and a meanes by which God doth multiplie his people and peace in a countrie: and that by the contrarie, an whole countrie may fall into Idolatrie and destruction. Whereby euery man may see what honorable seruice I wish him vnto, when I exhort him to the instructing of his familie.
Therefore I heartily pray and earnestly entreate all gouernours of families,
A request to the masters of families. that they would set such wise order, in the disposing of all their worldly affayres, that they may haue conuenient leisure and quiet time for the vse of this duetie: taking heede of all vaine excuses,
Vaine excuses. which the diuell and our corrupt nature will set before vs, as blockes and hinderances, that we should not once meddle with such
Luk.
10.42. necessary matters. First,
The Lords day the Lords day being an ordinary rest & time of libertie, doth call vnto you from the king of heauen, to doe this seruice. After morning and euening prayer, when you haue tried your people what they haue learned at the
[Page]Church by their pastour, and called to mind the chiefe heads of his teaching: then is it good to make it a drinke offering, vpon the pastours lessons; to teach them a point or two of the principles of Religion.
Two howers once in the weeke. And if it be possible, I would begge for these poore soules, in the name of Iesus Christ, (who shed his precious bloud for you and them) that you would bestowe some two howers euery weeke, in some one of the working daies, (as euery man shalbe able to find best and fittest leasure) to instruct your children and seruants, according to the order of this booke, or some such like: and that you would continue therein with al care and constancie. And I doe not doubt but you shall see great gaine by this little labour, euen a blessing from the Lord our God,
Hebr.
6.10. who will not forget any mans faithfull labour and loue, which is in Christ Iesus. There are foure sortes of people,
Foure sortes of people haue most fit oppotunity to teach the yonger. 1. Noble men, & Gentlemen. whome I would especially moue vnto this most vertuous and laudable worke, for that they haue most fitte opportunitie, to doe greatest seruice herein to God and their countrie. First al noble men and Gentlemen, and all Masters of great housholds. Whose families as they are the most in number, so most commonly they stand vnder the most reuerend and humble submission of their superiours. Therefore in regard of the one they may profit most; and in regard of the other with most easines and conueniencie;
Vaine pretēce. For although the greatest part pretend it, a very hard
[Page]thing in these daies, to bring their familie to Christian knowledge and sobernesse: yet the not hauing them so, consisteth not in the hardnes of the worke, or vnrulines of the people; but in the common neglect of many gouernours. Who passing ouer this dutie,
Libertie the spoyle of the familie. as a matter either not much to be regarded, or not pertaining vnto thē: haue so hardeened the necks of children and seruants, with the loose raines of libertie and licentiousnes: that very few can abide this wholesome yoake of Christian nurture, the gracious & godly comforte of the knowledge of saluation.
Great masters, rulers, princes, captaines, and kings may instruct their priuate families. For if one man could command to feare God, & to instruct
318. able men, beside all other seruants women and children: as is spoken of Abraham, Gene.
14.14. and cap.
18.19. and that a chiefe ruler ouer
120000 people, could so gouerne his priuat familie, that he could say, I and mine house will serue the Lorde, as wee reade of Ioshuah, cap.
24.15. And an other great Prince had his seruants so guided in the feare of God, that hee and they were examples, in lending money and corne to the poore of the land: as did Nehemiah, cap.
5.10. And if a Centurion could make both seruaunts and souldiers readie and obedient to euery good worke, as appeareth, Matth.
8.9. yea if a King could protest vnto God,
to banish deceitful and lying persons out of his house, and to entertain the faithful, & him that walketh in a perfit way: as you may see, Psalm.
101.5.6. I verily thinke
[Page]that no man endowed with a good conscience, fearing God and louing the Lord of life Iesus Christ, can haue any iust excuse or reasonable pretence, to keep about him a familie vntaught in the sweete words of the Gospell, and the holesome paths of our blessed Sauiour. Except they will say, that it is more behoofull for their children and seruants to serue them, and to reuerence them; then to serue and reuerence the Lord of glorie.
Instructing of groat families, furthereth both Church and commonwealth. But why should I vse many words vnto men of such excellent wits & great gifts, in a matter so necessarily depending vpon them, that the least mention should suffice euery wise and truly noble Gentleman to so glorious a worke. For by the good order & Christian instructiō of one such great familie, many soules are brought to God, there is great encouragemēt by ensample vnto others out of the familie, and a marueilous power for the bringing foorth and confirmation of al good things, both for the commonwealth, and also for the Church of God. For hence doe all other sortes of people take their light, and the liues of noble & worshipfull men, are many times more of force, then either the law of God or man. For they are like the great pillars in a building, that if they stand steadie in faith and good life, with their families, many are vpholden by them in the wayes of godlines: but if they swarue and become carelesse
[Page]and dissolute; they draw many with them, as by a mightie sway, into the wofull downfall of infidelitie and destruction. Therfore aboue al men, it behooueth them to take heed to themselues, and the good instruction and gouernment of their housholds.
The second sort are tutors in the Vniuersities, to whom I ioyne also the third sort,
Second and third sort, Tutors & Schoolmasters. Schoolmasters in towne & countrie. Which two haue a great resemblance in their opportunitie to do good, when many mens children of all callings, are committed to their conscience: to the one,
They may doe vnspeakable good. in the first and more tender yeares: to the other, in the yeares of most danger. If these two sorts of men would be painfull to wring out the iuyce of this heauenly erudition, as a necessary sawce, to giue a pure verdure, to their other literature, or as a sauoury salt to season al other learning: it is not to be spoken how much good they may doe. For as young plants, being straightned while they bee tender, and trimmed with pruning and other parts of husbandrie, will growe very goodly to behold in their greatnes, which being neglected, are many times very crooked and vnfit for diuers vses: So doe young men for the most part proue as they are nurtured in their youth. And the good instruction of Schoolemasters and Tutors (in my knowledge) hath very well straightned such young impes,
[Page](who otherwise were very rough and vnfruitfull) that many receiue comfort by their worthie example. Therefore I do most instantly beseech all Tutors and Schoolemasters to practise this booke: or, because you are learned, some better forme of your owne.
Lastly,
Fourthly, women, as Ladies and Gentlewomen, honorable by instructing their children. I doe heartily and humbly entreate all sorts of women, to watch carefully to doe this duetie: and first all Ladies and Gentlewomen, that they may be honoured by the spirit of Iesus Christ, as was that
2. Ioh. Ger.
1.4 elect Ladie,
whose children did walke in the trueth. And all other women like
Rom.
16.12.
Persis, who laboured much in the Lord. And as
1. Sam.
2.19.
Hannah made coates for her sonne
Samuel, who serued in the house of God: so these would aray their seruants and children with the
Prouerb.
4.9. goodly ornaments of wisedome and knowledge, which is from aboue. A woman,
Women being at hand may instruct their children. being the
Psal
128 3.
fruitfull vine on the house sides, in whose sight the
Prouerb.
4.3.
children are tender and deare: can by no meanes shew their naturall loue better, then being alway at hand with their children and maides, to giue them euery day in milde and pleasant manner some of these
Prou.
25.12. golden apples: wherewith the young babes will take such delight, that by the nourishment and exercise thereof, they will be made
Psal.
8.2. strong to confound the enemies of God and their countrie; when they haue learned to
1. Ioh.
2.12.14. know the father,
[Page]and that their sinnes are forgiuen them for Christs names sake. It is exceeding great the profit you may doe in the familie, if as
Salomon sayth of a vertuous woman,
you
Prou.
31.26.28.
open your mouthes in wisedome, and the lawe of grace be in your lips: For your children
shall rise vp and call you blessed, & your husbands shall praise you. Whereas
chap.
29.15.
children set at libertie, make their mother ashamed.
And generally,
Instruction of youth bringeth ioy to the instructor. as a man wil sowe his ground with the best seede, and plant his orchard with the best fruit; because he looketh for the greater and more gainefull encrease in the time of gathering: so if men, louing their children as well as they doe other commodities, would also traine them vp in the best thinges, which are found in the discipline, knowledge and faith of Christ: they should not onely escape many a secret griefe and bitter mischiefe; but also blesse the Lord with great toyfulnes, when they finde this fruite of their education in knowledge of these good things: namely, their children to bee a comfort refreshing and honour to their gray haires; and their seruants necessary helpes, before them, in all good causes and matters of honestie, truth, iustice and mercie. For it is written as a thing that faith not,
Galat.
6.7.
Whatsoeuer a man soweth, that shall he reape. Hoping therefore that such as bee wise in heart,
[Page]will earnestly follow my counsaile, and carefully stirre vp others to the same; I will hasten to the matter it selfe, by which, euery one may bee (as I hope) greatly guided in the performance of the same. I beseech almightie God, of his infinit mercie in Iesus Christ, to prosper this our godly purpose, to his glorie and comfort of his people. His glorious name be praised for euer. Amen.
Your faithfull seruant in Christ Iesus, Iosias Nichols.