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 [Page 4]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 [Page 5]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 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 [Page 6]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; [Page 7] 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, [Page 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? [Page 9]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, [Page 10]modum, secundum doctrinam & monita Christi; Give them Rules and Directions how to order their Lives according to the Doctrine and Commandments of Christ. Zanch. Ʋt pueri instituantur [...], id est, in verâ Dei cegnitione, verâ Pietate, vera (que) 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 [Page 11]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 [Page 12]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 that comprehensive signification, that it in­cludes all Inferiours, and such as are in subjection to others, as well as Children, 2 King. 16.7. So Ahaz sent Messengers to Tiglath-Pileser, saying, I am thy [Page 13]Servant, and thy Son. And the Greek word [...] sig­nifies Servants as well as Children. It is rendred a Servant, Mat. 8.13. & Mat. 14.2. It is translated a Child, John 4.51. Mat. 2.16. So also [...] which is another word used for Children, signifieth not only Children in a strict sense, that is, such as come out of our Loyns, but such Persons as inhabit one and the same place, are called [...], Luk. 13.34. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy Children together? —And such as are under the care and in­struction of one and the same person, are called by the name of [...], that mans Children. Thus the Apostle writing to the Corinthians, whom he had in­structed and begotten to Christ, calls them [...], my Sons, 1 Cor. 4.14. As my beloved Sons, I warn you. I may adde this farther, That the Master of a Family is called Pater Familias, The Father of the Family: Naamans Servants call their Master, Father; 2 Kings 5.13. His Servants came near unto him, and said, My Father—And it is usual in Scripture for Supe­riours to call their Servants and Inferiours by the name of Sons or Children. I will produce, of many instances which might be named, only these two, the one of Joshua, who calls Achan son, Josh. 7.19. Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give I pray thee glory to the God of Israel, and make confession to him. The other of Christ, who tells his Disciples that he was their Lord and Master, John 13.13. yet he calls them by the name of Children, John 21.5. Jesus saith unto them, Children have ye any meat?

3. The practice and example of the Servants of God in former Ages, proveth it to be our duty to instruct our Servants as well as our Children: If we observe what they did, we shall find they were careful to train up their houshold in the knowledge and fear of [Page 14]God. Thus did Abraham, Gen. 18.19. I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. So also did Joshua, Josh. 24.15. As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord. Cornelius be­ing a devout man himself, trained up all his house in the fear of God, Act. 10.2. A devout man, and one that feared God, with all his House.

4. In all Religious Exercises we find Governours of Families enjoyned to regard with an equal care their Children and their Servants, whether they be Men or Maid Servants. As for instance, in the san­ctification of the Sabbath, they are commanded to look after their Servants, and them that sojourn with them, as well as their Children, Exod. 20.8. Remem­ber the sabbath to keep it holy—In it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man­servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy stranger that is within thy Gates.—So also in the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, the whole Family was to keep the Feast unto the Lord, Deut. 16.14. Thou shalt re­joyce in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man servant and thy maid servant.

5. Instruction is as necessary for, and will be as beneficial to our Servants as our Children, (as shall be shewed afterwards) and therefore we should not think much to bestow our pains in teaching them such things as are necessary to salvation: Seeing 1. They have immortal Souls, which are as precious to God as our own Souls, or the Souls of our Children, Ezek. 18.4. Behold all Souls are mine.— 2. Jesus Christ hath done as great things for our Servants as he hath done for us or our Children; He died for them as well as for us; He makes the Bond as well as the Free Members of his Body, and Partakers of [Page 15]his Spirit, 1 Cor. 12.13. By one Spirit we are all bapti­zed into one Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whe­ther we be bond or free, and have been made to drink into one Spirit: He makes no distinction of Bond or Free, in the communication of his benefits; but the bond man and the free man are all one in Christ, Gal. 3.28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 3. God the Father will do as great things for our servants, as he will for us or our Chil­dren; if they seek and serve him, he will give them his Spirit, Joel 2.29. And also upon the Servants and upon the Handmaids in those days I will pour out my Spirit: He will give them an inheritance in the King­dom of Heaven, Col. 3.22, 24. Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh—knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance. John 12.26. If any man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall also my servant be — He will give them all good things, Psal. 34.10. They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Shall we think much to spend a little time, and to take a little pains in teaching our Servants, when God the Fa­ther, and his Son Jesus Christ, doth such great things for them?

It is evident from these Scriptures which I have produced, that it is our duty to teach Gods word unto our Children; and not only to our Children, but also to our Servants: yea, that there are many clear, express, and strict Commandments given to us by the great God for our performance of this Duty. Now how shall we be able to appear before God at the day of Judgment, if we live in the neglect of a known Duty, which is so often and so earnestly pres­sed upon us by God himself!

SECT. 3. The ignorance of Children and Servants proves the necessity of Family-Instruction. The Evils of Ignorance.

Arg. 2 THe great ignorance that is in our Chil­dren and Servants, sheweth Family-In­struction to be a necessary duty. Children before they are instructed have no knowledge of the things of God, Deut. 31.13. And that their Children which have not known any thing: And not Children only, but the greater part of such as are grown to mans estate have little or no knowledge of God, Psal. 14.2. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. And what account doth he give of the Children of men? Rom. 3.11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh af­ter God. There is none comparatively, there are so few understanding men, that they seem to be none, compared with the multitude of ignorant persons; or if it relate to men in an unregenerate condition, they are all destitute of the true and sa­ving knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. Even in those places, in those families, and in those Churches where persons injoy great means of knowledge, if inquiry be made what understand­ing in the things of God such persons have attai­ned unto, there will be found much ignorance in ma­ny that have a long time injoyed great advantages to get knowledge. The people of Israel had grea­ter means of knowledge than any Nation under Heaven, Psal. 147.19, 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel, [Page 17] he hath not dealt so with any nation; yet hear how God complains of Israels ignorance. Jer, 4.22. My people is foolish, they have not known me, they are foolish children, and they have none understanding, they are wise to do evill, but to do good they have no knowledge. The Hebrews who had excellent teaching a long time, in so much that in respect of the time and means they might have been Teachers of others, were so raw and weak in knowledge, that it was needful for them to be instru­cted in the first principles of the Oracles of God, 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. The Church of Corinth had many eminent Pastors and Teachers, as Paul, Apollo, &c. and did excel in gifts, 1 Cor. 5.7. In every thing ye are inriched by him in all utterance, and in all knowledge, —so that ye come behind in no gift: Yet in this eminent Church there were some found that had no know­ledge of God, 1 Cor. 15.34. Some have not the know­ledge of God, I speak this to your shame.

Now in regard there is naturally much blindness and ignorance in the minds and understandings of our chil­dren and Servants; it is necessary we should labour and take great pains with them, to bring them to the knowledge of God, by instructing them out of Gods word; if we have any regard either to the glory of God, or to our own good, or the good of our Children and Families. For,

1. The permitting of our Families to remain without the knowledge of God, will bring down Gods Judgments upon them: for God is wont to pour out his fury upon those persons and Families that have no knowledge of God, Jer. 10.25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name. Igno­rance [Page 18]of God was one ground of the Lords contro­versie with the Land of Israel, Hos. 4.1. The Lord hath a Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Land, be­cause there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land. If where the knowledge of God is want­ing in a Nation, God hath a controversie with that Nation, may we not also conclude that God hath a controversie, and will plead his controversie with those Families where there is no knowledge of God?

2. Our Children will prove great Crosses, and bring much grief and sorrow upon us, if we train them up in ignorance, Prov. 17.25. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him, Prov. 19.13. A foolish son is the calamity of his father. And as they will be a great grief to their Parents, who are nursed up in ignorance, so they will walk in such courses as will pierce themselves through with many sorrows, Hos. 13.13. The sorrows of a travel­ling woman shall come upon him, he is an unwise son.

3. If we do not instruct our Children and endea­vour to instil knowledge into them, they will be­come useless persons, and spend their days in vanity, and do no service for God or their Generation. They will be unable to undertake and manage common and easie employments, Eccles. 10.15. The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the City. What is more easie to find out, than the way to a City, where there is much commerce and frequent going to and fro. Such per­sons as are foolish and indiscreet, though they la­bour and toil in common and easie things, as easie as to find the way to a City, they can bring nothing to any effect: And as foolish children will be una­ble to manage any employments of themselves, so so they are unfit to be employed by others, Prov. 26.6. [Page 19] He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool, cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

4. If our Children and Servants be not taught to know the Lord, they cannot live godly lives, but will be alienated from the life of God, Ephes. 4.18. Having the understanding darkned, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, be­cause of the blindness of their heart. They will be so far from leading godly lives, if they be brought up in ignorance of God, that they will prove vitious persons; when the Israelites neglected the know­ledge of God, they became a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, Isa. 1.3, 4. Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider: Ah sinful nation! A people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, Children that are corrupters; they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the holy One of Israel to anger, they are gone away backward. The Apostle ranketh such as are without understanding among haters of God, and the chiefest of sinner, Rom. 1.30, 31. If our Children and Servants be destitute of the knowledge of God, they will be easily drawn to the vilest and most abomina­ble sins: such as Idolatry, Gal. 4.8. When ye knew not God, ye did service to them which by nature are no Gods: Blasphemy, Psal. 74.18. The foolish people have blasphe­med thy Name: Persecution of the people of God, so far as to kill and destroy them, Joh. 16.2, 3. They shall put you out of the Synagogues, yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you, will think he doth God service; and these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father nor me: Adultery, Prov. 7.7, 10, 21, 22, 25. I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, and behold there met him a woman with the attire of an Harlot—With much fair speech she caused him to yield, [Page 20]with the flattering of her lips she forced him; he goeth af­ter her straight-way, as an Ox goeth to the slaughter—till a dart strike through his Liver, as a Bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. Such as have no instruction, or being instructed do not obey the counsels that are given to them, are in the ready way to run into all kind of evil, Prov. 5.13, 14. I have not obeyed the voice of my Teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me; I was almost in all evil, in the midst of the Congregation and the Assembly. If we tremble at the thoughts of having our Chil­dren prove Blasphemers, Idolaters, Adulterers, Per­secutors of the people of God, and to run into all kind of evil, let us endeavour to prevent these great evils, by training them up in the knowledge and fear of the Lord.

5. If we bring up our Children in ignorance, they can have no fellowship with, or enjoyment of God, who is the chiefest Good: For, God is Light, and in him is no darkness at all, 1 Joh. 1.5. And per­sons that have no knowledge are said to be in dark­ness, Ephes. 5.8. Ye were sometimes darkness: And there can be no communion between Light and Darkness, 2 Cor. 6.14. What Communion hath Light with Darkness? Now what will all the good things which we give our Children whilst we live, or which we shall leave them when we die, avail them, if they have no enjoyment of God, who is the chiefest Good?

6. Without knowledge our Children and Ser­vants cannot obtain salvation, but must perish eter­nally, Psal. 5.5. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight. Job 36.12. They shall die without knowledge. Prov. 2.16. The man that wandereth out of the way of under­standing shall remain in the Congregation of the dead: That is, he shall be cast into Hell, and abide there [Page 21]among the Devils and damned persons for ever. So it is expounded by R. Sel. in caetu gehennae. And Me­noch, Videtur sensus esse cum Daemonibus futuros & cum impiis hominibus ad aeterna supplicia [...]amnatis: That the Hebrew word which is here translated dead, sig­nifieth Hell, may be gathered from Prov. 9.18. He knoweth not that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of Hell.

7. Without knowledge our Children will not only be undone in the world to come, but they are likely by their folly and indiscretion to undo themselves and their Families in this world, either by idleness, Eccl. 4.5. The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, Prov. 24.30, 31. Or by prodigality, Prov. 21.20. There is a treasure to be desired, and Oyl in the dwelling of the Wise, but the foolish spendeth it up: Or by Surety ship, Prov. 17.18. A man void of understand­ing striketh hands, and becometh Surety in the presence of his friend: Or by Law-suits, Prov. 18.6. A fools lips enter into contention: Or by speaking against persons in Authority, Eccles. 10.12. The lips of a fool will swal­low up himself, Prov. 10.14. The mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Or by some other rash and indis­creet carriages.

8. Instructing our Children and Servants out of the word of God, will remove their ignorance, and make them of foolish and simple to become wise and understanding persons, and so consequently will prevent all the afore-mentioned evils which will ac­crue both to us and them, if they be trained up in ignorance, Prov. 12.1. Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge, Prov. 8.33. Hear instruction and be wise. Psal. 19 7. The Testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Prov. 1.1, 4. The Proverbs of Solo­mon—to give subtilty to the simple, and to the young [Page 22]man knowledge and discretion. Psal. 119.130. The entrance of thy word giveth light, it giveth understand­ing to the simple.

SECT. 4. The corruption that is in children and servants, proveth Family-instruction to be a necessary duty.

Arg. 3 THere is not only much blindness and ignorance in the minds of our chil­dren and servants, but they have also very sinful and corrupt hearts. That we may see and understand what sin and corruption is bound up in the hearts of our children and servants, let us consider what the Scripture saith of the hearts of the sons of men. The heart of man by nature is void and destitute of all good, Rom. 7.18. I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: and full of evil, Eccles. 9.3. The heart of the sons of men is full of evil.— Yea, the seeds of the foulest sins, such as Murder, Adultery, Blasphemy, and the like, are in the heart of man, which will break out if they be left to themselves, Matth. 15.19. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. The inclinations of the heart to sin, even to the worst of sins, are strong and violent; so that the heart is not only set upon evil, but fully set to do evil, Eccles. 8.11. The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. There is such a bottomless depth of sin in their hearts, that we cannot fathom it, it is hard to express, yea, hard to understand how wicked and sinful the heart of man is: Jer. 17.9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? And this corruption of the heart, begins to work and [Page 23]discover it self very early, even whilst we are young, Gen. 8.21. The imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth: Isai. 48.8. I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressour from the womb.

Now seeing there is so much sin and corruption in the hearts of our children and servants, from hence it will follow, that it is our duty to train them up in the knowledge and obedience of the Word of God, whereby their hearts may be purified and san­ctified; and that it is necessary that we should im­ploy all the skill and strength that we have in this work: for,

1. Though their hearts be exceeding sinful, as we have heard before; yet if we instruct them in the knowledge, and train them up in the obedience of the Word of God, this will be a means to purifie and sanctifie their hearts, and to reform their lives: for the word of God hath a sanctifying vertue in it, John 17.17. Sanctifie them through thy Truth, thy Word is Truth: And being hid in the heart, it will cleanse the heart, and keep a man from sinning a­gainst God, John 15.3. Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Psal. 119.11. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Obeying and practising the word, will puri­fie the heart, 1 Pet. 2.22. Ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit.— If we can bring our Children to take heed to their ways, and to frame them according to the word of God, we need not doubt but this will cleanse their hearts and lives, Psal. 119.9. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto, according to thy word.

2. If we suffer our Children and Servants to live [Page 24]without instruction, and do not labour to bring them acquainted with God, and with his holy word, there is no hope that they should be reclaimed from their sins, Hos. 5.4. They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God, for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord. The Pro­phet gives this reason why they would not frame their doings to turn to the Lord, They did not know the Lord, and the spirit of whoredoms was in them. By the spirit of whoredoms we may understand strong and habitual inclinations to sins of uncleanness, and also to Idolatry, which is spiritual Adultery. When the mind of a man is vehemently carried out after a thing, and these impetuous motions continue and reside with him, the Scripture calls this by the name of a Spirit, as Numb. 5.14. The Spirit of Jealousie. From this passage of the Prophet Hosea, we may draw this conclusion, As long as persons who have strong and habitual inclinations to that which is evil (which is the case of all Children and grown persons that are in an unregenerate condition) continue ignorant of God, there is no hope that they should frame their doings to turn unto the Lord. Our Children and Servants will be so far from reforming their lives without instruction, that as long as they remain igno­rant of God, they will grow worse and worse, Jer. 9.3. They proceed from evil to evil, and know not me saith the Lord. 2 Tim. 3.13. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse.

3. If we suffer our Children and Servants to walk after their own hearts lust, we shall undo them for ever; for this is the broad way that leads to destru­ction, for a man to walk after the lusts of his own heart, and we shall also bring down Gods Judg­ments upon our selves, and cause his Judgments to [Page 25]rest upon our Families for many Generations, 1 Sam. 3.13, 14. I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knoweth, because his Sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not; and therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, That the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with Sacrifice nor Offering for ever.

4. We had need employ all the skill and strength that we have in teaching and educating our Chil­dren in the knowledge and fear of the Lord, be­cause it is a difficult work to change their Natures, and to subdue their Wills to Gods Will. Zophar compares man to a wild Asses Colt, Job 11.12. For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild Asses Colt. The difficulty of taming a wild Ass, his untractable ranging disposition, is elegantly set forth Job 39.7, 8. He scorneth the multitude of the City, nei­ther regardeth he the crying of the Driver, the range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. Such a wild unruly Creature is man, and that from his Birth: Man is born like a wild Asses Colt. If he be not tamed whilst he is young, he will not regard the voice of his Teachers, though multitudes labour with him one after another, it will be a difficult matter to bring him to any good order. If our Children have added to their sinful natures, a custom in sin­ful courses, it will be as hard to reclaim them as to change the Leopards spots, or to make the Ethiopian (who is naturally black) to become white, Jer. 13.25. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.

SECT. 5. Family-Instruction is necessary for the performing of Family Duties.

Arg. 4 FAmily-Duties cannot be performed to the glory of God and the edification of our Families without Family-Instruction; and this proves the great obligation that lieth upon us to train up our Families in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. I will instance in several Duties which cannot be performed without Family—Instru­ction.

1. Prayer is a Duty to be performed in all Fami­lies; the neglect of it is such a great sin, that God ranks those Families among the Heathen that do not call upon him, and threatens to pour out his fury upon them, Jer. 10.25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name: Fury is more than wrath or anger, it is the highest degree of anger; God is not only angry, but he is filled with fury against, and will pour out his fury upon those Families that do not call upon him. Now how shall our Children or Servants be able to pray without instruction? Or how are they like to be edified by joyning in Fami­ly-Prayer, if they be ignorant of that God to whom we pray, and of Jesus Christ, in whose name our prayers are offered up to God, and of those things which are asked of God, when we pray to him in his Sons name. That knowledge is necessari­ly required to inable us to pray, and also to joyn in prayer so as to receive edification, (and if know­ledge, then also instruction, which breedeth know­ledge) is evident from such Scriptures as these, Rom. [Page 27]10.14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed, and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a Preacher? 1 Cor. 14, 15. I will pray with the Spirit, and will pray with the understanding also, Job 37.19. Teach us what we shall say unto him, for we can not order our speech by reason of darkness. Ignorant worship is not accepted of God; Christ reproved the Samaritans for worshipping they knew not what, and tells them, that such as expect Life and Salvation from God, must worship him understandingly, John 4.22. Ye worship ye know not what, we know what we wor­ship, for salvation is of the Jews. If they be wholly ignorant, when they are joyning in holy Duties, as in prayer, or in praising God, though he that per­forms the Duties, performeth them well, and in a spiritual manner; yet such as are ignorant of God, and the things of God, will not be edified by those Duties, 1 Cor. 14.16, 17. When thou shalt bless with the Spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the un­learned say, Amen; seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. The Apostle speaketh here of gi­ving thanks in an unknown Tongue, but though we use a known Tongue in prayer, or praising God, yet if our Families have no knowledge of God, they will receive little or no edification by joyning with us, when we pray to, or praise the Lord. If we do not train up our Families in the fear, as well as in the knowledge of God, though they should learn to pray, their prayers will avail nothing with God, John 9.31. Now we know that God heareth not Sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doth his will, him he heareth. Isa. 1.15. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes; yea, when ye make [Page 28]many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.

2. It is the Duty of every Member of our Fami­lies to praise the Lord, and to give him thanks for his mercies, Psal. 145.2. Let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever. Psal. 150.6. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. 1 Thes. 5.18. In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. It is a duty to be per­formed every day, Psal. 145.2. Every day will I bless thee. Psal. 92.1, 2. It is a good thing to give thanks un­to the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy Name, O most High; to shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. It is a duty to be performed not only by our selves when we are alone, but all the members in the Family should joyn toge­ther in blessing and praising God, Psal. 135.19. Bless the Lord, O house of Aaron. Psal. 34.3. O magnifie the Lord with me, and let us exalt his Name together. Deut. 14.26. Thou shalt rejoyce, thou and thy houshold. Now how can our Families bless and praise God for his mercies, if they be not taught that all the good things they have, come from God; and also taught who that God is that gives them all good things, and how and in what manner they should express their thankfulness unto him? We find that when the Scripture speaketh of praising God, it often intimates that we should praise him with understanding: Psal. 47.6, 7. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises unto our King, sing praises: For God is the King of the Earth, sing ye praises with understanding. 1 Cor. 14.15. I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also: Which implieth, that the Lord cannot be praised by the sons of men in an accepta­ble manner, if they be not endued with knowledge and understanding.

3. It is our Duty to exhort our Children and Ser­vants to flee from sin, and to follow after Righteous­ness, to love, and fear, and serve the Lord, and to walk in his ways, &c. Heb. 3.13. Exhort one another daily, while it is called to day, lest any of you be harden­ed through the deceitfulness of sin. Now if we would have our exhortations to take place, we must joyn Doctrine or Instruction with our Exhortations. 2 Tim. 4.2. Exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. If we do not instruct them wherein the nature of those Duties lieth unto which we exhort them, and how and in what manner they should be performed, we shall be like those that beat the air, our Exhorta­tions will be of no advantage to them.

4. It is our Duty to reprove our Children and Servants when we see them negligent in their duty, or committing any sin against God, Lev. 19.17. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. If we must rebuke a Neighbour, then much more those of our own house, when they sin against the Lord. Now instruction makes way for reproof; one word of reproof to a man instructed with wisdom and understanding, will do more good than an hundred stripes will do towards the reforma­tion of an ignorant foolish person: Prov. 17.10. A reproof entreth more into a wise man, than an hundred stripes into a fool. We shall find it a very difficult matter to fasten a reproof upon our Children and Servants, so as to make it take place, and do them good, if they be without understanding. The like may be said of other Duties which we ought to per­form towards our Children and Servants, they can­not be performed successfully if we suffer our Fami­lies to be without Instruction.

SECT. 6. We have Gods example for teaching our Children and Servants.

Arg. 5 GOD teacheth and instructeth his Chil­dren and Servants, and therefore it is our Duty to teach and instruct our Children and our Servants; for we ought to be followers of God, Ephes. 5.1. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Chil­dren. In order to our imitation of God in this pra­ctice, Let us consider,

1. Who they are whom God teacheth; all his Children and Servants from the greatest of them to the least; he leaves not one of them without instru­ction, Isa. 54.13. And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord: Jer. 31.34. They shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, saith the Lord. Deut. 33.3. Yea, he loved the people; all his Saints are in thy hand, and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words. So should we teach and in­struct every one of our Children and Servants, from the least to the greatest.

2. God begins to teach his Children betimes: Psal. 71.17. O God thou hast taught me from my youth. So should we begin early with our Children, 2 Tim. 3.15. From a Child thou hast known the holy Scrip­tures.

3. God teacheth his children and servants know­ledge, Psal. 94.10. He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? He teacheth them to know himself Jer. 24.7. I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: And to know and believe in his Son Jesus Christ, John 6.45. It is written in the Prophets, And they shall be all taught of God: every man there­fore [Page 31]that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me. And to love one another, 1 Thes. 4.9. Ye your selves are taught of God to love one another. He instructs them to shun and to avoid evil company, and evil examples, Isa. 8.11. For the Lord spake thus unto me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people. He teacheth them by his grace to deny all ungodliness and to live righteous and holy lives, Tit. 2.12. The grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teach­ing us, That denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. He instructs them how to order and manage the works of their Callings with Wisdom and Dis­cretion, Isa. 28.24, 25, 26. Doth the Plowman plow all day to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the Fitches, and scatter the Cummin, and east in the principal Wheat, and the appointed Barley, and the Rye in their place? For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. He instructs them how they should walk, and what they should say and do, and how they should order their Conversa­tions aright in all things, Psal. 32.8. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go, Exod. 4.12, 15. I will be with thy mouth, and will teach thee what thou shalt say—and will teach you what ye shall do. 2 Chron. 32.22. The Lord guided them on every side. Psal. 107.7. He led them forth by the right way. He shews them the Path of Life, and guides them in the way to Heaven: Psal. 16.11. Thou wilt shew me the Path of Life: Psal. 73.24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me unto glory. Here­in we should imitate God, we should teach our Chil­dren and servants to know God, and his Son Jesus [Page 32]Christ, and to believe in Christ, and to love one a­nother, and to forsake evil company, and to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, and righteously, and godly, in this present world: We 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 Corner­stone. 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 [Page 33]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 [Page 34]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 [Page 35]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 [Page 36]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 [Page 37]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 [Page 38]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.

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 [Page 41]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 great worth and excellency there is in an immortal Soul: The Soul of the poorest Child or Servant in your Families, is more worth than all the substance in your houses, than all the Riches you have gotten or can get as long as you live; yea, than the whole world, Mark 8.36. What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own Soul? And therefore you should spend more thoughts and pains about saving your Children and Servants Souls, than you would do to gain the whole world, if there were a probability that by your care and industry you might get into your possession all the good things that are in the world. There is such an excellency in the Soul, that when any one [Page 42]sinner is brought to repentance, whereby his Soul is put into a state of Salvation, all the Angels of Hea­ven rejoyce at this glad Tidings, Luk. 15.10. There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

2. By converting your Children and Servants, you shall recover their souls from the power of the De­vil: Before their conversion he rules and carries them captive to this and the other sin, as he pleaseth, Ephes. 2.2. 2 Tim. 2.26. But when they are convert­ed, they are freed and delivered from the power of Satan. The Conversion of a sinner is the opening of his eyes, and turning him from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Act. 26.18. It is Gods delivering of a sinner from the power of dark­ness, and translating him into the Kingdom of his dear Son, Col. 1.13. If your Children were under Turkish Slavery, would you spare any pains or cost to redeem them from the hands of the Turks? It is far worse to have them under the power of Satan, than under the power of the Turks. Suppose the Devil had gotten possession of your Childrens Bo­dies, and should torture them, as he did the woman of Canaan's Daughter, who cried out to Christ, Mat. 15.22. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, my Daugh­ter is grievously vexed with a Devil; or should rend and tear them, as he did that young man whose Fa­ther made his moan to Christ after this manner, My Son hath a dumb Spirit, and wheresoever he taketh him he teareth him, and he fometh and gnasheth with his teeth, and he pineth away,—and oft times it hath cast him in­to the fire, and into the waters to destroy him, Mark 19.17, 18, 22. would not this cause you to mourn, and fast, and pray, and to use all means possible to get your Childrens Bodies delivered from the tyranny [Page 43]of Satan? And would you not be restless until you had obtained their deliverance? To have your chil­drens Souls under the power of the Devil, and to have them drawn sometimes into one foul sin, and then into another, is far worse and more dangerous then to have their Bodies at his command; and yet this is their case, as long as they remain unconverted their Souls are under the power of sin and Satan. How should this cause you to strive with God in prayer night and day, and labour with your utmost diligence in the use of all means to get their Souls converted to God?

3. By converting your Children and Servants, you shall prevent their dying in their sins, and save them from the wrath of God, and the torments of Hell, Jam. 5.19, 20. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a Soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins: What a great, what a good work is this, to save a soul from death? Shall we think any pains too much to save immortal Souls from eternal Death? If you saw any of your Children ready to fall into a fiery Fur­nace, which would consume them to Ashes in a mo­ment, you would suddenly lay hold on them, and prevent, if it were possible, their falling into the fur­nace of fire: Hell is called A Furnace of Fire, Mat. 13.42. As long as your Children live in ignorance, and in an unconverted condition, they are in danger every day to fall into this furnace of fire. And doth it not concern you then, to prevent with all possible speed their falling into everlasting burn­ings?

4. Consider what great pains Jesus Christ took to save and convert Souls: The great end of his com­ing [Page 44]into the world and taking our Nature upon him, was to save Souls, Luk. 19.10. The Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost: When he was up­on the earth he was so diligent in teaching and in­structing the people, that he did not omit his work one day, Luk. 19.47. He taught daily in the Temple: He was so diligent to teach and instruct the people, that he could not find spare time to eat his Bread, which cansed some of his friends to think and say he was beside himself, Mark 3.20. He was not only ve­ry diligent in preaching, but was content to lay down his life to save our souls. Shall not this exam­ple of Christ provoke you to give all diligence to save both your own, and the souls of all that are com­mitted to your Charge?

5. God will give a greater degree of Glory to those that are instrumental to convert and save souls, than to other Saints: For whereas they shall shine only as the Firmament, they that convert others shall shine as the Stars in the Firmament, Dan. 12.3. They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Fir­mament, and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever.

6. You cannot approve your selves to be Righte­ous Persons either to God or Men, if you do not re­gard what becomes of your childrens and servants souls; A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast, Prov. 12.10. If this be true, how can they account themselves righteous persons who have no regard what becomes of the souls of their Children? If a Beast go astray, though it be not our own but our Neighbours, yea our Enemies, we must by no means neglect to bring it back, Exod. 23.4. If thou meet thine Enemies Ox or his Ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If we are bound so [Page 45]straightly to bring back an Ox or an Ass of our Ene­mies when he goes astray, then what obligations lie upon us to bring home to God our own Children, and our houshold Servants, when we see them going astray from the Lord?

SECT. 2. Such as neglect Family-Instruction, are guilty of their Children and Servants Blood. How great an Evil it is to be guilty of the Blood of Souls.

Motive. 2 SUch Parents and Masters of Families as neglect to train up their Children and Servants in the fear of the Lord, and in the know­ledge of his word, are the instrumental causes of their Damnation, and their Children and Servants Blood will be laid to their charge, and be required at their hands. For it is evident from the word of God, that all such as live and die ignorant of God, having attained to years of discretion, shall be de­stroyed for ever, without having any mercy shewed to them, 2 Thes. 1.7, 8, 9. The Lord Jesus shall be re­vealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power: Isa. 27.11. — It is a people of no understanding, therefore he that made them will have no mercy on them, and he that form­ed them will shew them no favour: Hos. 4.6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Now if the Lord will condemn our Children and Servants for their ignorance, and their ignorance proceed from our neglect of instructing them, are not we the cause of their condemnation? Such as have the Rule and Go­vernment [Page 46]of Families are in the nature and condition of Watchmen, as well as those that bear Rule in the Church, and must give an account for those souls that are committed to their charge, Heb. 13.17. Obey them that have the Rule over you, and submit your selves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account. And as for those that are placed in the con­dition of Watchmen, if any persons over whom God hath made them Watchmen be lost through their neglect to instruct them in their duty, or to reclaim them from their sins, the Blood of those that perish shall be required at the Watchmans hands, Ezek. 3.17, 18. Son of man, I have made thee a Watch­man unto the House of Israel, therefore hear the word at my Mouth, and give them warning from Me, when I say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand: What Inditement is brought in against the Jews? Jer. 2.34. In thy Skirts is found the Blood of the Souls of the poor Innocents— I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these. The like may be said of many Masters of Families, In their Skirts will be found the Blood of the Souls of their Children and Servants: In their Skirts—That is, it will plainly and evident­ly appear unto all men at the day of Judgment, that they are guilty of the Blood of the Souls of their Children and Servants, for want of instructing and training them up in the fear of God: VVe cannot possibly be clear from the blood of those that are committed to our charge, if either through wilful­ness, or through sloth and negligence, we forbear to instruct them in those things that are necessary to their Salvation; but if we do our duty, and they pe­rish [Page 47]in their sins, their Blood shall be upon their own head, Act. 20.26, 27. I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the Counsel of God: Did Parents and Masters of Families seriously consider what it is to have their Children and Servants die eternally, and that through their neglecting to teach and train them up in the fear of God, did they also consider what it is to have the blood of Souls laid to their charge, it would stir them up to be diligent in instructing their Families, unless they be such as have lost all regard to their own and their Families welfare.

To press home this consideration with the greater efficacy, I shall suggest to you three or four things more under this head. As,

1. The death of a Child goes near a Parents heart. Hagar could not endure to see her Child die, and therefore when she thought he would die, she gets a great way off from him, and sat down and wept, Gen. 21.16. She said, Let me not see the death of the Child; and she sat over against him, and lift up her voice and wept. VVhen tydings came to David of Absolom's death, he was exceedingly troubled at it, 2 Sam. 18.33. And the King was much moved, and went up to the cham­ber ever the gate, and wept; and as he went, thus he said, O my Son Absolom, my Son, my Son Absolom; would God I had died for thee, O Absolom, my Son, my Son! VVhen Jacob did but suppose that Joseph was dead, though he had eleven Sons living, his sorrow was so great, that he refused to be comforted, Gen. 37.34, 35. Jacob rent his cloaths, and put sackcloth upon his loyns, and mourned for his Son many days; and all his Sons, and all his Daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down [Page 48]into the Grave unto my Son mourning: Thus his Father wept for him. If it be so grievous to Parents to see their Children deprived of their natural life, how should it pierce their hearts to have them deprived of eternal Life? If they are so grieved at the death of their Bodies, how should they lay to heart the death of their Souls? How should it wound them to have their Children cast into the lake that burneth with fire and Brimstone, which is the second death; where they shall be always burning, and yet never be consumed; they shall be always dying, and yet never be dead? yea, how should it affect them when they consider that they themselves have through their negligence been the cause of their Childrens dying the second death.

2. It would pierce a flinty heart to see Children dying in their Parents Arms for want of Bread. VVhen Jeremiah saw little Children in the time of Famine, some dying in the streets, others breathing out their souls in their Mothers Bosoms for want of Bread to sustain their Lives, it made him weep till his eyes and his heart failed him with grief, Lam. 2.11, 12. Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my Liver is poured upon the earth, for the de­struction of the Daughter of my People, because the Children and the Sucklings swoon in the streets of the Ci­ty; they say to their Mothers, Where is Corn and Wine? When they swooned as the wounded in the Streets of the City, when their Soul was poured out into their Mothers Bosom. This is a sorrowful sight, but it is far more dreadful to see Children perishing to all eternity in their Parents Houses, for want of their communica­ting to them the Bread of Life, than to see them die by Famine.

3. It is an unspeakable loss for a man to lose one [Page 49]Soul: Though he do not lose his Children and Ser­vants Souls, though he lose not one Soul besides his own, the gain of the whole world will not make up this loss; as appears from the fore-quoted Scripture Mar. 8.36. What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own Soul? If it be such a great loss for a man to lose his own Soul, what will it be for a man, besides the loss of his own, to be charged with the loss of the Souls of his Children, and of all that ever were committed to his charge.

4. Blood is a crying sin, the cry of it reacheth to the Heavens, and calls to God for vengeance, Gen. 4.10. What hast thou done? The voyce of thy Bro­thers Blood crieth unto me from the ground: And bring­eth a great curse on those that are guilty of shed­ding it, Vers. 11. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy Bro­thers Blood from thy hand. Vers. 12. A fugitive and vagabond shalt thou be upon the earth. Although all Blood crieth loud, yet none crieth like the Blood of Souls. As much as the Soul surpasseth the Body in excellency, so much greater is their sin who are accessary to the destroying of Souls, than theirs who only take away the life of the Body. It is spoken of as a dreadful Judgment to have the Stones and Timber of a Mans House crying out against him, (which will be the lot of those that get or build Houses by unrighteous means) Hab. 2.11. The Stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the Timber shall answer it. The man that is in this case can have but little joy in his House, either by night or by day. But what is this to the cry of such Souls as pe­rish byour means, who will be crying out against us to all eternity? What Zipporah said to Moses, by reason of the Circumcision, Surely a bloody Husband [Page 50]art thou to me, Exod. 4.25, 26. The like will many women say to their Husbands, who perish for want of their instructing them, Surely a bloody Husband hast thou been unto me; and Children will cry out against their Fathers, for suffering them to die and be damned for want of instruction, Surely a bloody Father hast thou been unto me; and Servants will cry out against their Masters, Surely a bloody Ma­ster hast thou been unto me. To undo a man in his Estate by oppression, or violent taking away his Goods, is a mighty sin, there are dreadful things threatned against such as are guilty of this sin, Job 20.19. to 29. Because he hath oppressed and hath for­saken the poor, because he hath violently taken away an house which he built not; surely he shall not feel quiet­ness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desi­reth, there shall none of his meat be left, therefore shall no man look for his goods; in the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wicked shall come upon him: When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating: He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the Bow of steel shall strike him through; it is drawn and cometh out of the Body, yea the glistering Sword cometh out of his Gall; terrours are upon him, all dark­ness shall be hid in his secret place, a fire not blown shall consume him. It shall go ill with him that is left in his Tabernacle, the Heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him: the increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. To undo a man body and Soul to all eter­nity in the world to come, is a far greater sin, than to undo a man in his estate in this world: And if such dreadful things are denounced against the Oppres­sor, what shall be done to the Soul-murderer?

5. He that neglecteth or refuseth to instruct his Family, is as certainly guilty of the Blood of their Souls, as he that suffereth his Family to starve by neglecting or refusing to give them that food which should preserve their Lives, is guilty of destroying their natural Life: for as surely as the Body will pe­rish without its food, so surely will the Soul perish without instruction, Prov. 5.23. He shall die without instruction. Prov. 29.28. Where there is no vision the people perish.

SECT. 3. Instructing our Children out of the Scriptures instils Wisdom into them; the Advantages that will come to them by being endued with Wisdom.

Motive. 3 BY instructing our Children and Ser­vants out of the Word of God, we shall furnish them with Wisdom and Understand­ing, whereby they will become prudent persons. Though they be young and simple, yet Gods word will make them wise and discreet, 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: Prov. 1.1, 4. The Proverbs of Solomon—To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion: Prov. 19.20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. It was by Gods word that David attained to such eminency in wisdom, that he became wiser than the Ancients, and all his Teach­ers, Psal. 119 99, 100. No Persons or Nations un­der Heaven are so wise as they that are acquainted with, and give heed to, the Word of God, Deut. 4.6. Keep therefore and do them, for this is your wisdom [Page 52]and understanding in the sight of the Nations, which shall hear all these Statutes, and say, Surely this great Nation is a wise and understanding People. By being acquainted with the word, they shall attain to wis­dom in Civil Things, and Divine; in things pertain­ing to God, and to Men: Prov. 31.4. My Son, for­get not my Law, but let thine heart keep my Command­ments; so shalt thou find favour and good understand­ing in the sight of God and Man. Yea, by instructing our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures, we shall convey to them the best wisdom that is attained by the sons of men, and that is, to be wise to salva­tion, 2 Tim. 3.15. From a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. See­ing then that instructing of our Families out of the Scriptures, will be a means of enduing our children and servants with wisdom and understanding, this may be of great force to stir us up to diligence in teaching them Gods holy word, especially if we con­sider how many, and what great advantages come to our children and servants by being furnished with VVisdom and Understanding. I will mention a few.

1. To leave our Children endued wisdom, is bet­ter then to leave them great Riches: For Wisdom is better than Rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it, Prov. 8.11. How much bet­ter is it to get wisdom than Gold, and to get understanding, rather to be chosen than Silver, Prov. 16.16. VVisdom is a greater Ornament and a more lovely Jewel than a multitude of Rubies and pretious Stones, Prov. 20.15. There is Gold and a multitude of Rubies, but the Lips of Knowledge are a pretious Jewel. VVisdom is of that excellency that it far surpasseth all the Silver [Page 53]and Gold, and pretious Stones in the world: Job 28.16, 17, 18. It cannot be valued with the Gold of Ophir, with the precious Onyx, or the Saphir, the Gold and the Crystal cannot equal it, and the exchange of it shall not be for Jewels of fine Gold; no mention shall be made of Coral, or of Pearls: for the price of Wisdom is above Rubies. How desirous are most Parents to leave their Children great Estates? If Wisdom be better than all the Riches of the world, why should we not desire and labour more to leave them en­dued with VVisdom, than to leave them great Riches?

2. If we leave them endued with VVisdom, though they be poor, we leave them better than if we left them Kings and Princes destitute of VVis­dom: Eccles. 4.13. Better is a poor and a wise Child, than an old and foolish King: Many persons who have aspiring minds, would spare no pains to make their Children Kings and Princes, if they saw any possi­bility to effect it; why then should we be backward to convey that to our Children which will be a grea­ter advantage to them, than the promoting of them to be Kings.

3. Wisdom will make our Children of an excel­lent Spirit: Prov. 17.27. A man of understanding is of an excellent Spirit. An excellent Spirit is a great Ornament to a man, and to be preferred above No­bility of Birth, Beauty, Riches, or any external Accomplishments. Darius finding in Daniel an ex­cellent Spirit, preferred him above all the Princes and Nobles in his Kingdom, Dan. 6.3. This Daniel was preferred above the Presidents and Princes, because an excellent Spirit was in him, and the King thought to set him over the whole Realm.

4. Wisdom and Understanding will make the [Page 54]Members of our Family useful in their Generation, in whatsoever places and stations they shall be fixed by the Providence of God. What blessing was prayed for on Boaz his behalf by his Friends, Do thou worthily in Ephratah, Ruth 4.11. The same shall fall upon our Children, if we train them up in ac­quaintance with God. They shall do worthily in the places where God casts their lot, although their lot be cast in evil times and sinful places, Dan. 11.32. Such as do wickedly against the Covenant shall be corrupt by Flatteries; but the people that do know their God, shall be strong and do exploits. By being endued with Wis­dom and Understanding, they will prove great Bles­sings to the Families, Cities, and Kingdoms, in which they live. They will be blessings to the Hou­ses and Families where they live, Prov. 24.3. Through wisdom is an house builded, and by understanding it is established. Yea, they will be Blessings to the Towns and Cities wherein they live, Eccles. 9.14, 15. There was a little City, and a few men within it; and there came a great King against it, and besieged it, and built great Bulwarks against it; now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the City. By the means of a wise Woman the City of Abel was preserved from destruction; When Joab was come against it with a great Army, to destroy the place, she by her wise carriage both mollified Joabs Spirit, and brought over the men of the City to comply with his desire, and so saved the City from ruine, 2 Sam. 20.15, 16, 22. Yea, more than this, they will be Blessings to the States and Kingdoms in which they live; Prov. 28.2. For the transgression of a Land many are the Princes thereof; but by a man of under­standing and knowledge the state thereof shall be pro­longed. Joseph being a wise and discreet man, Gen. [Page 55]41.39. was a great blessing to all the Land of Egypt, and not to Egypt only, but to all the Countreys round about, who were sustained by the Provision, that he had laid up against the time of that great Fa­mine.

5. Wisdom will cause our Children to live in good repute and credit all their days: Prov. 3.35. The wise shall inherit Glory, but shame shall be the promo­tion of Fools. Eccl. 8.1. A mans wisdom maketh his face to shine—It will procure them favour and honour and respect from all sorts of persons, Prov. 4.7, 8. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee, she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her; she shall give to thine head an Ornament of Grace, a Crown of Glory shall she deliver to thee: Prov. 14.35. The Kings fa­vour is towards a wise Servant.

6. Wisdom will keep our Children from imbezel­ing away, and mis-spending their Estates which we leave them, and will help them to preserve, increase and use well that portion of Goods or Lands, that we shall bequeath to them, Prov. 24.4. By knowledge shall the Chambers be filled with all the precious and plea­sant Riches, Prov. 21.20. There is a treasure to be de­sired, and Oyl in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spendeth it up.

7. Wisdom will keep them from falling into those troubles and snares wherewith foolish and indiscreet persons are intangled, Prov. 22.3. A prudent man fore-seeth the evil and hideth himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. And when they do fall into trouble, knowledge will help them to get out of their troubles, Prov. 11.9. Through knowledge shall the Just be delivered.

8. Wisdom will preserve them from keeping evil company, that they shall not be intangled with the [Page 56]acquaintance either of lewd men or lascivious wo­men, which are the bane and destruction of many young men, Prov. 2.10, 11, 12, 16. When wisdom en­treth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant to thy Soul, Discretion shall preserve thee, and Ʋnderstanding shall keep thee, to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things,—to deliver thee from the strange Woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

9. Wisdom will make our Children prove great Comforts to us, Prov. 10.1. A wise Son maketh a glad Father: Prov. 23.15, 16. My Son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoyce, even mine; yea, my reins shall rejoyce when thy lips speak right things: And vers. 24, 25. The Father of the Righteous shall greatly re­joyce, and he that begetteth a wise Child shall have joy of him; thy Father and thy Mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoyce.

10. Wisdom and Understanding are means of leading them to life and salvation: Prov. 16.22. Ʋn­derstanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it. Prov. 3.21, 22. Keep sound Wisdom and Discretion, so shall they be Life and Grace to thy Neck: John 17.3. This is Life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Do we not thirst after the salvation of our Childrens Souls? If we do, then let us be diligent to instruct them in the Striptures, which will make them wise to 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. Ʋnless 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 [Page 58]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 [Page 59]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 [Page 60]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, Prov. 2.1, 5. My Son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my Commandments with thee—Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Would we have our [Page 61]Children continue in the ways of God, walking with and serving God as long as they live? By instructing them whilst they are young, we shall obtain our de­sire in this thing: Prov. 22.6. Train up a Child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not de­part from it. Would we have our Children instru­cted how to lead a godly and righteous Life? And would we have them throughly furnished with abili­ties for every good work? This may be done by acquainting them with the Scriptures: 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Do we desire our Children should be prosperous men, both whilst we live, and after we are dead, and gone into another world? This may be obtained by train­ing them up in the knowledge and obedience of Gods word, Deut. 29.9. Keep therefore the words of this Covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do. Do we desire that our Children may be blessed with all manner of blessings whilst they live here in this world, and do we desire to have their Souls saved when they die? The way to obtain this, is to train them up in a godly sort, that they may know and walk in the ways of the Lord, which he hath prescribed to us and to them in his holy word: For 1 Tim. 4.8. Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come: Prov. 10.17. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction. See also 2 Tim. 3.15. John 17.3. Deut. 28. from vers. 1. to 24.

SECT. 5. We benefit our selves by instructing our Families.

Mo∣tive. 5 BY inflructing our Families in the know­ledge of the Scriptures, we shall not only procure much good to our Children and Ser­vants, but shall also exceedingly advantage our own Souls, and obtain many blessings from God, for our selves as well as our Families. When Obed-Edom entertained the Ark of the Lord in his house, The Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his houshold, 2 Sam. 6.11. And the Blessings that God gave Obed-Edom were so remarkable, that others as well as himself took notice thereof, vers. 12. And it was told King David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that pertained unto him, because of the Ark of God. In this Ark were laid up the Laws of God, written upon two Tables, Deut. 10.2. If we treasure up Gods Laws in our own hearts, and teach the same unto our Families, instructing them both in the Duties of the first and second Table, that is, in their duty to God and to Men; the Lord will as surely, and in as eminent a manner bless us, as he did Obed-Edom, for receiving the Ark, wherein were the two Tables of the Law of God. I will instance in some advantages and blessings which those Parents and Masters of Families shall receive, that are dili­gent in training up their Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures.

1. The Lord hath promised a long and blessed Life to them and their Children, that instruct their Children in his word; they shall enjoy a kind of Heaven upon Earth, Deut. 11.18, 19, 21. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your hearts and in your [Page 63]souls—And ye shall teach them your Children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up—that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your Children—as the days of Heaven upon Earth.

2. They shall have a great reward in Heaven, who are diligent in instructing those whom God hath committed to their Charge, Mat. 24.45, 46, 47. Who then is that 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. If we teach our Families the Commandments of God, and do also keep them our selves, we shall be great Persons in the Kingdom of Heaven, how mean and low so­ever our condition be in this world, Mat. 5.19. Who­soever shall break one of these least Commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the King­dom of Heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Hea­ven.

3. Our Children and Servants will be great Com­forts and Blessings to us if we train them up in the fear of God. Onesimus before his Conversion was a great cross to his Master, but after he was instru­cted by the Apostle Paul, and God had wrought up­on him, who was a more dutiful Servant than One si­mus? Philem. 11. Which in time past was to thee unpro­fitable, but now profitable to me and to thee. They will be great Comforts to us in this world: Prov. 10.1. A wise Son maketh a glad Father: Prov. 29.17. Correct thy Son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy Soul. The Chaldee, Syriack, Arabick, [Page 64]Greek, and Vulgar Latin, translate the word Erudi filium tuum, &c. Instruct thy Son; and the Hebrew word [...] signifies to instruct—as well as to correct, as Psal. 2.10. Be instructed ye Judges of the Earth. So that the words may be as well rendred, Instruct thy Son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight to thy Soul. What greater Comfort can a Parent have, than to see his Children walking in the ways of God? 3 John 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my Children walk in truth. They will also be a Comfort to us in the world to come: What a Joy will it be to a godly Parent to present himself and his Children before the Lord, and to say, Lord, here am I, and the Children whom thou hast given me. As it is with Ministers of the Word, they shall have great joy in those they have instructed and conver­ted to the Lord, 1 Thes. 2.19, 20. What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoycing? Are not even ye, in the pre­sence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our Glory and Joy. So it will be with Parents and Masters of Families, they shall have great Joy at the day of Judgment in those whom they have taught and brought home to the Lord.

4. It will keep the memory and savour of Gods word upon our hearts, and breed in us a spiritual frame of heart, to be often teaching Gods word to our Families, Deut. 4.9, 10. Only take heed to thy self, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things that thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thine heart all the days of thy life; but teach them thy Sons, and thy Sons Sons; especially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they (hall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their Children.

5. It will be a great support and satisfaction to Governours of Families, in a dying hour, if their Consciences bear them witness that they have been careful to train up those whom the Lord hath com­mitted to their charge, in the knowledge of his word. It was a comfort to Hezekiah, when he had received the Sentence of Death, that he had done that which was good in the sight of the Lord, Isa. 38.3. Now this is a good thing in the sight of God, to bring men to the knowledge of the Truth, 1 Tim. 2.3, 4. When the Lord Jesus was departing out of this world, he mentions twice his giving Gods word to the men that were given to him, John 17, 8, 14. Possibly for this reason, to teach us that it will be a great comfort in a dying hour to all such as have had any persons committed to their charge, to be able to appeal to God that they have taught and instruct­ed them in the knowledge of his holy word. When the Apostle Paul took his leave of the Church of Ephesus, and knew he should see their faces no more, though he knew that after his departing grievous Wolves would enter in among them, not sparing the Flock, and also that among themselves some would arise, speaking perverse things, yet having before been diligent in teaching them the good word of God, he doth with a great deal of satisfaction of mind commend them to God, and to his word, know­ing that Gods word was able to build them up un­der all oppositions and discouragements whatever, Acts 20.32. And now Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. In like manner, when Parents have taught their Children the word of God, although they fore-see that after their death their Children are [Page 66]likely to fall into many temptations by reason of se­ducing spirits, or other evils, yet they may with much comfort commend them to God, and to the word of his grace, wherein they have been in­structed.

6. Such Parents as are careful to instruct their Families, and to train them up in the knowledge and fear of God, shall not only be blessed themselves, but they shall be great blessing unto others, Gen. 18.18, 19. Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him: And why? The Reason is rendred in the fol­lowing words, For I know him, that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do Justice and Judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

SECT. 6. The Evils that arise from the neglect of Family-In­struction.

Mo∣tive. 6 COnsider what a great evil it is for Gover­nours of Families to neglect instructing their Families in the knowledge of Gods holy Word.

1. They do shut up the Kingdom of Heaven a­gainst their Children and Servants. For such as do take away the Key of Knowledge, do shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against those persons from whom they do take away the Key of Knowledge; as is evident by comparing Mat. 23.13. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites, for ye shut up the King­dom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in your selves, neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in: [Page 67]with Luk. 11.52. Wo unto you Lawyers, for ye have ta­ken away the Key of Knowledge; ye entred not in your selves, and them that were entring in ye hindred. What a woful crime is this, for a man to shut up the King­dom of Heaven against his Family?

2. Such Parents as neglect to instruct their children are more cruel than the Sea-monsters, Lam. 4.3. Even the Sea-monsters draw out the brest to their young ones. The daughter of my People is become cruel as the Ostrich in the Wilderness. Instruction is as necessary for the Soul, as the brest or other food is for the Body. Yea, they are worse than Infidels, 1 Tim. 5.8. If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own House, he hath denied the Faith, and is worse than an Infidel. The providing those things which concern the Souls of our Houshold is as necessary, and the neglect thereof as dangerous, as the provi­ding for their Bodies. Yea, they are more unnatu­ral than the damned in Hell, for they are desirous that their Relations should be instructed, and that means should be used to prevent their eternal dam­nation, Luk. 16.23, 27, 28. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham after off, and Lazarus in his bosom—Then he said, I pray thee therefore that thou wouldst send him to my Fathers house, for I have five brethren, that he may testifie unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

3. God accounts those Parents haters of their Children, that neglect to instruct and correct them, Prov. 13.24. He that spareth the Rod, hateth his Son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. Such as do not endeavour to prevent sin in their neighbours, do hate them in their hearts, whatever shew of love they make in their words, Lev. 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thine heart, thou shalt in any wise re­buke [Page 68]thy Neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. If they hate their Neighbours that suffer sin upon them, do not they hate their Children that suffer them to live in ignorance of God, which is a Soul-damning sin?

4. Children and Servants prove great crosses when they are not trained up in the knowledge and fear of God. And this comes to pass both by the just Judgment of God, who punisheth Parents and Masters neglect of Family-Instruction, with the disobedient undutiful carriage of their Children and Servants; and also from the power of original corruption, which when it is not restrained by good education, breaks forth with great violence, and caus­eth persons to be of a perverse and stubborn spirit. Eli neglecting Family-Government was punished in his Children, by their proving exceeding great cros­ses to him, 1 Sam. 2.33. The man of thine whom I shall not cut off from mine Altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart. And as God dealt with Eli, so he ordinarily deals with those Parents that neglect to train up their Children in the know­ledge and fear of his Name; he suffers them to prove a reproach and grief to their Parents, Prov. 29.15. The Rod and Reproof give wisdom, but a Child left to himself bringeth his Mother to shame. Prov. 17 25. A foolish Son is a grief to his Father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

5. The neglect of instructing our Families, and training them up in the fear of God, causeth God to inflict many great and sore judgments on our Fa­milies, and such as shall continue upon them from Generation to Generation: 1 Sam. 3.13, 14. I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the ini­quity which he knoweth, because his Sons made them­selves [Page 69]vile, and he restrained them not; and therefore I have sworn unto the House of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's House shall not be purged with Sacrifice nor Offering for ever.

SECT. 7. Family-Instruction will propagate Religion to a thousand Generations.

Motive. 7 BY instructing our Children and Ser­vants in the knowledge of the Scrip­tures, and training them up in the fear of God, we shall be a means of erecting many godly Families, and shall greatly propagate the true Religion and Power of Godliness, and shall prove great Blessings not only to the present Generation, but also to the Generations that are to come. For if we instruct our Children, and the Lord bless our Labours (and we have no cause to doubt of his Blessing, if we be diligent and faithful in our work) our Children will teach their Children, and their Children will teach the next Generation; and so by our means the knowledge of God and his Gospel will be transmit­ted from Generation to Generation, as long as the world stands: For Children are very apt to walk in all those ways that they see their Fathers walk in, 1 King. 22.43. And he walked in all the ways of Asa his Father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. Solomon gives this reason why he taught his Children, his Father taught him when he was a Child, Prov. 4.1, 3, 4. Hear ye Children the instruction of a Father, and attend to know understanding, for I was my Fathers Son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my Mother; He taught me also, and said, Let thy heart retain my words, keep [Page 70]my Commandments and live. That if we teach Gods Word unto our Children, they will teach it to their Children, and their Children will teach the next Ge­neration, and so the knowledge of God and his holy Word, will be transmitted from one Generation to another, is implyed in Psal. 78.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our Fathers have told us, we will not hide them from their Children, shew­ing to the Generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done: For 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 Chidlren, that the Generation to come might know them, even the Children which should be born, who should arise and declare unto their Children, that they might set their hope in God, &c. And as our Children, so also our Servants whom we have instructed, when God shall give them Fami­lies, they will teach their Housholds the ways of the Lord, and such as spring out of their Loyns will tread in their steps, and instruct their Families, whereby the Kingdom of Christ will be greatly in­larged. Solomon instructed his Servants, 1 Kings 10.8. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy Servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom. And we find the Children of Solomons Servants, who were generally reputed to be Profelites, that had embraced the Jewish Religion, spoken of in the Scriptures, and giving evidence of their Piety for many Generations after Solomon's death, they evi­denced their Piety by adhering to the Jews, who were the People and Church of the living God, and that when they were in a low condition, and under great misery by reason of the Babylonish Captivity. [Page 71]2. By their returning out of Babylon to Judah and Je­rusalem, Ezra 2.1, 55. after they had dwelt in Ba­bylon seventy years, where they had built Houses and planted Vineyards, Jer. 29.4, 5. and could not leave those Houses and Vineyards without much loss. 3. The Children of Solomon's Servants are reckoned up amongst those that were most forward to come out of Babylon unto Zion, Neh. 7.5, 6, 57. 4. They went out of Babylon to Jerusalem, to build the House of the Lord, which was a great, costly, and difficult work, Ezra 1.3, 5. compared with Chap. 2.1, 55. and that is a further evidence of their Piety, that they went not up to Jerusalem for their own ends, but that the Lord had stirred up their spirits to go thither to build the Lords House. This ex­ample sheweth that Instruction is a means to propa­gate Religion to many Generations; for from Solo­mon to the carrying away of the Jews into Babylon, were thirteen Generations, Mat. 1.17. and from their going into Babylon, till their return from thence, seventy years, Jer. 29, 10. And we find the Children of Solomons Servants retaining a savour of true Piety, from Solomon's days till their return from Babylon. By the means of Family-Instruction rightly managed, what is promised Isa. 60.22. A lit­tle one shall become a thousand, may be verified of our Families; Religion may be so propagated by train­ing up our Families in the knowledge and fear of God, that from one little Family that feareth God, may in process of time arise a thousand godly Fami­lies. And what is said of Israel, Isa. 27.6. Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit: The like may be said of those godly persons that train up their Families in the fear of God, they shall do much towards the filling of the face of the [Page 72]world with the fruits of Righteousness. Religion will be so propagated from one Family to another, and from one Generation to another, by the means of Family-Instruction, that hereby may be fulfilled what is spoken of, Isa. 58.12. They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places, thou shalt raise up the foundations of many Generations; and thou shalt be cal­led, The Repairer of the Breach, and the Restorer of Paths to dwell in. And hereby we may become an Eternal Excellency, the Joy of many Generations; and many Children that are yet unborn shall rise up, and call us Blessed, and will have cause to bless God on our behalf to all Eternity. It is said of Abraham, who instructed his Family, All the Nations of the Earth shall be blessed in him, Now he became a Bles­sing to all Nations, not only upon the account that the Messiah came out of his Loyns, (of which the Holy Ghost speaks Gen. 22.18. where he attributes the Blessing of all Nations not to Abraham, but to his Seed; In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed) but his being a Blessing to all Nations, is also attributed to his instructing his Family, and training up his Children and Servants in a godly sort, whereby the knowledge of God and the Seeds of Piety and true Religion were conveyed from one Family to another, and from one Generation to ano­ther, and from one Nation to another; as will ap­pear from Gen. 18.18, 19. All the Nations of the Earth shall be blessed in him: (How so? How should it come about that all Nations should be blessed in him? The following words will declare this) For I know him, that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. [Page 73]Lo here how effectually Family-Instruction propa­gates Religion! By means whereof, from one Fami­ly the Seeds of Piety are conveyed to many Na­tions.

SECT. 8. Family-Instruction greatly advanceth Gods glory.

Motive. 8 INstructing our Families in the know­ledge of Gods holy word, will very much advance the Glory of God. For then we glorifie God, when we manifest and make known his Name unto those persons whom he hath commit­ted to our charge, and are careful to bring them ac­quainted with his word: John 17.4. I have glorified thee on Earth: And how did Christ glorifie his Fa­ther upon the earth? He tells us, Vers. 6. & 8. That it was by manifesting the Name of God to those that were given to him by his Father, and by instructing them out of his word; I have manifested thy Name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world—I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me. When David was desirous to exalt and magnifie the Name of the Lord, the way that he resolved to take for the exalting and glorifying God, was to teach his Children to fear the Lord, Psal. 34.3, 11. O mag­nifie the Lord with me, and let us exalt his Name toge­ther. Come ye Children, hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Family-Instruction advan­ceth the glory of God several ways; I will mention only two or three.

1. Instructing our Children and Servants out of the word of God, will be a means to bring them to lead holy, godly, and righteous Lives; and when our Families walk in the fear of God, and live righ­teously, [Page 74]God is glorified, Isa. 60.21. Thy People also shall be all righteous—that I may be glorified.

2. The good that our Children and Servants will receive by our instructing them out of the word of God, will be so great, that they will bless and praise God for it, as long as they live, yea to all eternity, so that hereby we shall bring eternal glory to God, for then and as long as God is praised he is glorified, Psal. 50.23. Whoso offereth me praise, glorifieth me.

3. Family-Instruction glorifieth God, as it is a means to propagate Religion, and increase the num­ber of Converts, and to bring multitudes to become Servants of the Lord; for the more godly Families are erected, the more the number of Gods Ser­vants is multiplied, the more God is glorified, Prov. 14.28. In the multitude of People is the Kings Honour. What Solomon saith of earthly Kings, the same is true of the King of Heaven. The Prophet Isaiah also informeth us, Isa. 26.15. That the increasing of the number of Gods Servants, advanceth his glory: Thou hast increased the Nation, O Lord, thou hast in­creased the Nation; thou art glorified. And it hath been shewn before, that instructing our Families will be an effectual means of their Conversion, and will greatly propagate Religion, and the Power of Godliness from one Family to another, for many Generations. Now seeing Family-Instruction glo­rifieth God, we should set our Heads and Hearts on work how to carry on this duty in the most advanta­gious and successful manner; for we were every one created, and are maintained in our being for this very end, to glorifie God, Isa. 43.6, 7. Bring my Sons from far, and my Daughters from the end of the earth, even every one that is called by my name, for I [Page 75]have created him for my glory: And Vers. 21. This people have I formed for my self; they shall shew forth my praise. And seeing we had our Beings given us for this end, to glorifie God, we ought to attend those Services which glorifie God with all our might.

And as the training up of our Children in the knowledge and fear of God, greatly advanceth his glory; so the neglect of this duty may be said to rob God of eternal glory. Hence God complains of such as neglect or hinder the Religious Educa­tion of Children, that they take away his glory for ever, Mich. 2.9. From their Children they have taken away my glory forever: How did they take away from their Children the glory of God for ever? Locceius gives this interpretation of it, malâ educatione; By their evil education of their Children they robbed God of eternal glory. To the same effect Gualther expounds the words, Institutione destituuntur, quâ ad Dei gloriam educentur; They were deprived of in­struction, whereby they should have been trained up to the glory of God. Corn. à Lapid. also gives the same sence of the words, Tulistis ab eis meam laudem, tum quia eos à matribus avulsos, honest â piâ (que) educatione privastis, & in idololatriâ vestra educastis tam quia eos ad paupertatem adegistis ob quam ad omnia scelera vestram (que) voluntatens & libidinem inflexistis. Winckelman, D. Stokes, and several others, expound this Scripture of the depriving Children of Religi­ous Education. And they that neglect the educating their Children in a pious manner, may well be said to take away from their Children the glory of God for ever: For when Children are trained up in a godly sort, they will glorifie God all their days in this world, and also in heaven to all eternity; and [Page 76]they would not only glorifie God themselves, but teach their Children to do so also; and they would teach the next Generation; and so the knowledge and glory of God might be transmitted from one Generation to another, as long as the world shall continue; all which glory is taken away from God, where the pious Education of Children is neg­lected.

SECT. 9. We shew our love to God by Instructing our Fa­miliet.

Motive. 9 THe Lord will take it kindly at our hands, and account it a real demon­stration of our love towards His Sacred Majesty, if we are careful to feed our Families with the know­ledge of his word: Three times the Lord Jesus calls upon the Apostle Peter, that if he had any love to him, he would shew it by feeding his Lambs and his Sheep, John 21.15, 16, 17. Jesus saith unto Simon Pe­ter, Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee: He saith unto him, Feed my Lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee: He saith unto him, Feed my Sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? — And he said unto him, Lord thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee: Jesus saith unto him, Feed my Sheep. After the Command of loving God with all our heart, and all our soul, and all our might, is immediately added the Command of laying up Gods Word in our hearts, and teaching the same diligently unto our Children, Deut. 6.5, 6, 7. which implieth, That we [Page 77]cann't express our love to God better, than by lodg­ing his word in our hearts, and teaching it to our Children. As they are Pastors after Gods own heart, who are diligent to instruct the people in the knowledge of his word, Jer. 3.15. I will give you Pa­stors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding: So they are Parents and Masters after Gods own heart, who feed their Chil­dren and Servants with the knowledge of Gods word. It is said of Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 30.22. He­zekiah spake comfortably to all the Levites; that taught the good knowledge of the Lord. In the like manner at the day of Judgment the Lord will speak com­fortably to all those Masters of Families that have taught his good word unto their Families.

SECT. 10. Gods mercy in giving us Families, should stir us up to in­struct them.

Motive. 10 IT is a great mercy to have a Family. The giving the Midwives an Hous­hold, is mentioned as a great part of the Reward which God gave them for their fearing His Sacred Majesty, Exod. 1.21. And it be came to pass because the Midwives feared God, he made them Houses. All the Members of a Family are Blessings and great Mercies, when they are well-ordered, and rightly improved. It is a great Blessing to have a good Wife, Prov. 18.22. Whoso findeth a Wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord. Chil­dren also are accounted by God to be a Blessing, and are given as a Reward: Psal. 127.3, 5. Lo Children are the Heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his Reward. Happy is the man that hath his Quiver [Page 78]full of them. It is no small Blessing to have Servants, and that we are not put to do all toylsome and infe­riour works our selves, and that we are not left alone to carry on our Affairs, but have Servants to be helpful to us. When Abraham's Servant reckons up the Blessings which God had given his Master, he mentions among the rest, Gods giving him Servants, Gen. 24.35. The Lord hath blessed my Master greatly, and he hath given him—Men-Servants and Maid-Servants.— Solomon also speaketh of it as a mercy to have a Servant, Prov. 12.9. He that is despised, and hath a Servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh Bread. Now if a Family, and every Mem­ber in a Family be a mercy, and a blessing given us by God, it is but meet that we should in way of gra­titude dedicate our Families to God, and train up every Member in the Family in the knowledge and fear of God. Especially if we consider that our Children and Servants are committed to us for this very end, that we should train them up in a godly sort, that will lay a further obligation upon us to bring them acquainted with God, by instructing them out of his holy word: Mal. 2.15. Did he not make one? Yet had he the residue of the Spirit: And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly Seed. The Prophet acquaints us in these words what was Gods end in the Institution of Marriage, which was not simply the giving of a Seed, or the propagating of Mankind, but the producing of a Godly Seed, and to that end he ordained Marriage to be between one man and one woman; whereas when he created Adam he could have formed many women for the use of one man, seeing he had the residue of the Spirit; but he made only one woman, to the in­tent that Man and Wife might joyn in their care and [Page 79]endeavour to train up their Seed in a godly sort, which would be much hindred by multiplying of Wives, whereby a mans heart wonld have been turned away from discharging his duty to God and his Family, Deut. 17.17.

SECT. II. We have the example of JESUS CHRIST, and the best men that ever lived, for instructing their Fa­milies.

Motive. 11 IT hath been the practice of the Saints and Servants of God in all Ages and Generations to instruct and train up their Families in the knowledge and fear of the Lord: And the labour and pains they have taken in this Good Work, hath not gone without a Reward, for both they themselves and their Families have been excee­dingly blessed of the Lord: Among the many ex­amples that might be produced both out of the old and new Testament, I will mention four or five. It was the practise of Abraham to instruct his Family, and train them up in the ways of God: And what high Commendations doth the Scripture give of Abraham? He is called, The Friend of God, The Fa­ther of the Faithful, &c. How did God bless Abra­ham! He appeared often to him, and gave him ma­ny precious Promises, and entred into a Covenant with him, and sent Angels to his House, and reveal­ed his Secrets to him, and vouchsafed to talk famili­arly with him, yea he blessed him in all things, and with all manner of blessings, Gen. 24.1. Abraham was old and well stricken in age, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And that God in blessing Abraham had respect to his teaching his Family, is [Page 80]evident from Gen. 18.17, 18. And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty Nation, and all the Nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do Justice and Judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. The reason given in this Text why the Lord reveal­ed his Secrets to Abraham, and why he became a great and mighty Nation, and why he became such a great blessing to the world, that in him all the Na­tions of the Earth were blessed, and why he enjoy­ed all promised mercies, is fixed upon his care in training up his Houshold in the ways of God; For I know him, that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him, &c. If we would be accounted Abraham's Children, and enjoy Abrahams Blessing, we must walk in the steps of his Faith, Gal. 3.7. and do his Works, John 8.39.

Joshua follows Abraham's example, in that he did not only serve God himself, but caused all his Hous­hold to serve the Lord, Josh 24.15. As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord. And observe how the Lord blessed Joshua, who trained up his Family to serve the Lord: God gave him his presence whe­ther soever he went, Josh. 1.9. and stuck to him all the days of his Life, vers. 5. and honoured and mag­nified him in the sight of all Israel, Josh. 3.7. He made him Leader of his people, to carry them into the Land of Canaan; He subdued mighty Kings un­der him, and gave their Kingdoms into his hand: At Joshua's Request the Sun stood still a whole day, which thing God never did for any man but Joshua, Josh. 10.12, 13, 14.

David, who hath the character of a man after Gods own heart, he was also careful to instruct his Children in the knowledge of God, and to bring them up in the fear of God; especially his Son So­lomon, 1 Chron. 28.9. And thou Solomon my Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and love him with a perfect heart and willing mind.—Prov. 4.3, 4. I was my Fathers Son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my Mother; He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words.—And God did excee­dingly bless both David and Solomon his Son; the Blessings he gave them were so remarkable, that it is needless to recount them.

Cornelius, who was a devout man himself, trained up all his Houshold in the fear of God, Act. 10.1, 2. There was a certain man in Cesarea called Corne­lius— A devout man, and one that feared God, with all his House—This man was in great favour with God, God sent an Angel to him to tell him his Pray­ers and his Alms were come up for a Memorial be­fore God, Vers. 4. and sent Peter to preach the Go­spel to him, and poured out the Holy Ghost on him and all that were present with him, to the astonish­ing of the Jews that came along with Peter, Vers. 44, 45.

Timothy was instructed in the Scriptures while he was a Child, 2 Tim 3.15. From a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures—And what an eminent man did he prove? He was so eminent for Faith, that the calling to mind of his Faith filled the Apostle with Joy, 2 Tim. 1.4, 5. He proved to be of such a publick spirit, and such a Lover of the Church of God, that of all the Apostles Acquaintace and Companions, there was none like unto Timothy, Phil. 2.19, 20, 22. The Apostle doth not only call [Page 82]him a godly man, but a man of God, 1 Tim. 6.11. Thou, O man of God—Examples have a great influ­ence upon most men, if we see a multitude going before us, we are apt to follow them, though that which they do be an evil thing, and that also not­withstanding we have a Precept from God to the contrary, Exod. 23.2. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil, neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many, to wrest Judgment. Behold here is a Cloud of Witnesses, a multitude of Gods Saints and Servants have gone before us in this good work of instructing their Families in the knowledge of Gods word, and shall we be loth to follow a multitude of good men, the best and wisest men that ever lived, in a good work, whenas we are commanded to walk in the way of good men, Prov. 2.20. Heb. 13.7. If the examples of the Friends and Favourites of God, of great men, of wise men, of holy men, of men that have enjoyed the Blessing and Presence of God, will do any thing with us, then let the Example of Abraham, Joshua, David, &c. prevail with us to train up our Families in the knowledge and fear of God.

Besides these fore-mentioned Examples, we have the Patern and Example of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, who is greater than Abra­ham, or David, or any Princes or Potentates that ever lived upon the face of the Earth. The Apo­stles and Disciples of Christ, that went whitherso­ever he went, that lodged where he lodged, that eat and drank with him continually, were as I may so call them Christs Family, they called him by the name of Master, and he owned that name, John 13.13. Ye call me Master and Lord, and ye say well, for so I am: He went in and out amongst them all the [Page 83]time after he had called them to follow him, as a Master doth amongst his Servants, Act. 1.21. Now if we look upon the Disciples of Christ as his Fami­ly, then we have an excellent Pattern of Family-Instruction in the Example of our Lord Jesus: For he was very diligent in teaching and instructing his Disciples, John 17.6. I have manifested thy Name un­to the men which thou gavest me out of the World. And that Christ instructed them out of the word of God, appears from vers. 14. I have given them thy word. See also Luke 4. from vers. 17. to 21. He did not only teach them with others in the exercise of his Ministry, but did also instruct them in pri­vate, when they were alone with him: Mark 4.34. When they were alone, he expounded all things to his Di­sciples. And not only before his death, but also af­ter his Resurrection, his great work among his Di­sciples was, to teach and expound to them the Scrip­tures, Luk. 24.27. And beginning at Moses, and all the Prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scrip­tures the things concerning himself? And ves. 32. Did not our Hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures? And vers. 45, 46. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, &c. Now every one that professeth himself to be a Christian, ought to imitate the example of Christ, so far as he is placed in the same relation that Christ was in, 1 John 2.6. He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked.

SECT. 12. Gods Judgments that have lately been upon us, call for Family-Instruction, and Family-Reformation.

Motive. 12 THe great and mighty Judgments that have of late been upon this Nation, as the Sword, Pestilence, &c. do call aloud upon us to set upon this work of Family-Instruction, and that on several accounts.

• 1. The great and mighty Judgments of God call for Reformation of our Lives, and learning of Righteousness, Isa. 26.9. When thy Judgments are in the Earth, the Inhabitants of the World will learn Righ­teousness. Now Family-Instruction is the way to Family-Reformation: When Ephraim was instruct­ed he repented, and bemoaned his sins, and turned to the Lord, Jer. 31.18, 19. And Family-Reforma­tion would produce National Reformation: For if every Family did begin to reform and turn to the Lord, how speedily would the Nation be reformed? Family-Reformation will draw down a multitude of Blessings both upon our selves and Families, and upon the whole Nation; It will bring a blessing up­on our Estates, Job 22.23, 24. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up; thou shalt put away ini­quity far from thy Tabernacles: Then shalt thou lay up Gold 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 [Page 85]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, [Page 86]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 Ʋsefulness 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 [Page 88]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: [Page 89] 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 [Page 90]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 [Page 91]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, [Page 92]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, tis 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 [Page 94]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.

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 [Page 96]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 [Page 97]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. Then all the Congregation answered and said with a loud Voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. Apollos who was mighty in the Scriptures, Acts 18.24. was very successful in the Conviction and Conversion of obstinate sinners: for he mightily convinced the Jews, vers. 28. And in the edification of such as were con­verted to the faith, vers. 27. Who when he was come helped them much which had believed through grace.

SECT. 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. What are Soul-saving Truths? Seasonable Truths.

Direct. 2 COnsider well what Doctrine you teach your Families, if you would convert and save their Souls. For by taking heed to the Doctrine that you instil into them, you may save both their and your own Souls: 1 Tim. 4.16. Take heed to thy self, and unto thy Doctrine, continue in them, for in doing this, thou shalt save both thy self and them that hear thee.

If any ask, What Doctrine should we teach our Families, in order to the Conversion, Edification, and Salvation of their Souls.

I answer: In the general, teach them the holy Scriptures: I have proved already that it is the Will and Command of God that we should instruct our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures, Chap. I. Sect. 1. And I have also shown that teaching Gods Word to our Families will be a means of their Con­version, Psal. 19.7. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the Soul, and of their edification, Acts 20.32. I commend you to God, and the Word of his grace, which is able to build you up— And of their Salvation, Rom. 1.16. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto Salvation. As the Rea­der may see more largely in the perusal of the first and second Chapters.

If any say, Tell us more particularly what Do­ctrine we should teach our Families out of the Scri­ptures [Page 99]in order to their Conversion, Edification and Salvation?

Answ. 1. Instruct them in the knowledge of the Principles of Religion: As for instance: Teach them that there is a God, and that this God is a Re­warder of them that diligently seek him: And who is the true God: That there is but one God, and that this one God subsisteth in three distinct Per­sons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: That God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth: That God know­eth all things, is every where present, Almighty, Eternal, Holy in all his Works, and Righteous in all his Ways, Faithful, Just, Abundant in Mercy, &c. That God made the Heavens and the Earth, and all things therein, and Rules and Governs all his Creatures by his Wise and Gracious Provi­dence: That Man was created in the Image of God, and sinned against God by eating the Forbidden Fruit: That by Adam's Disobedience all Men were made Sinners, and are by Nature the Children of Wrath; and that Judgement came upon all men to Condemnation: That God out of his great Love sent his only begotten Son into the World, to seek and save that which was lost: That JESUS of NAZARETH, who was conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin MARY, suffered un­der PONTIUS PILATE, was the promised MES­SIAH: That He died for our Sins, and rose again the third day, and ascended into Heaven where he sitteth at the right hand of God, making interces­sion for all that come to God by him; from whence He shall come again to judge the World in Righte­ousness: That God for Christ his sake hath made a New Covenant, wherein he hath promised Remis­sion [Page 200]of sins, Sanctification, eternal Life, and all other good things freely to them that believe on his Son: That those whom God hath ordained to eter­nal Life he calleth out of Darkness into Light, and turneth them from their sins unto God, and unites them to Christ by faith, and puts his Spirit into them, and causeth them to walk in his Ways, and to serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of their Life: That there shall be a general Resurre­ction of the Dead, both of the Just and Unjust, that after the Dead are raised, the whole world shall appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, that every one may receive according to what he hath done while his Soul lived in his Body: That such as have lived and died in their sins without Repentance shall be cast into Hell, where they shall abide with the Devil and his Angels in everlasting fire; And such as have believed in Christ, and repented of their sins, shall be received into Heaven, where they shall be ever with the Lord. It is necessary that you should teach your Children and Servants the knowledge of the Principles of Christian Reli­gion: Heb. 5.12. Ye have need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God. For Knowledge is the foundation of Practice, Psal. 119.34. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy Law, yea I shall observe it with my whole heart. And Solomon tells us, Prov. 29.2. Also that the Soul be without knowledge, it is not good.—And as you must teach them the knowledge of the Principles, so al­so the practise of the Duties of the Christian Reli­gion, as to believe in Christ, to repent of their sins, to love God with all their Hearts, and to love their Neighbours as themselves; to do the same things unto others, which they would that others [Page 101]should do unto them, to deny themselves, to love their Enemies, to do good to them that hate them; to read, hear, and meditate on Gods Words, to be contented in every estate, &c. Knowledge without Obedience will be so far from leading them to ever­lasting life, that it will make them have the greater condemnation: Luk. 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. But by teaching your Families both to know and do the will of God, you shall make them partakers of eternal Happiness: John 13.17. If ye know these things, happy are ye if you do them. Thus David in­structed his Son, he taught him both 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 with a perfect heart, and willing mind.—

2. Teach them nothing but the Truth: Do not pervert and wrest the Scriptures to their and your own destruction. Do not give them poy son instead of the sincere milk of the Word: It was the pra­ctise of Christ and of his Apostles to teach nothing but the Truth, Matth. 22.16. Master we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth: 2 Cor. 2.17. We are not as many which corrupt the word of God, but as of sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ: By teaching them the Word of God in truth, you shall be instrumental to their Regeneration: Jam. 1.18. Of his own will begat he us, with the word of Truth; and the rendring of them fruitful in good works, Col. 1.6. Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day that ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: And be a means of saving their Souls: for it is by the know­ledge [Page 102]and belief of the Truth that we are brought to salvation, 2 Thes. 2.13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation, through Sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the Truth. It is said, Prov. 14.25. A true witness delivereth Souls: By a true Wit­ness we may understand one that instructeth those that are under his Charge in the knowledge of the Truth: The Hebrew word [...] which we render a Witness, is sometimes used, as Kircher observes, pro predicatore, for a Teacher; and we find the word Witness used in this signification, Act. 26.16. To make thee a Minister and a Witness. And then the words may have this sence, That teaching and in­structing persons in the knowledge of the Truth, is a means to deliver their Souls from eternal destru­ction.

III. Teach them Soul-saving Truths. By Soul-sa­ving Truths, I mean such Truths as will be a certain and infallible means of saving your Children and Servants Souls, if they be rightly understood, firmly believed, and sincerely practised.

If you ask, What are those Truths which will be a means of saving our Children and Servants Souls, if we teach them to our Families?

I answer: Such as these:

• 1. Teach them to know GOD and his Son JE­SUS CHRIST; by so doing you shall guide them into the path of Life: For John 17.3. This is life eternal, That they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
• 2. Teach them their lost and miserable condi­tion by Nature; their need of, and their misery without Jesus Christ, and the way and means by which they may come to be partakers of Christ: For if you can draw them to Christ, they shall not [Page 103]miss of eternal Life: 1 John 5.12. He that hath the Son, hath Life.
• 3. Explain to them the Covenant of Grace, what great Mercies and Blessings are contained in the Co­venant; that their Souls may long to be brought under the Bond of the Covenant; shew them also how and by what means they may get into Covenant with God: for if you can bring them to lay hold upon the Covenant of Grace, you shall make them Partakers of Salvation: for eternal Life and Salva­tion is promised to such as are in Covenant with God: 2 Sam. 23.5. He hath made with me an everla­sting Covenant—and this is all my Salvation.
• 4. Shew them the nature, necessity, and excel­lency of faith in Christ, and labour to bring them to believe in Jesus Christ: If they be brought to be­lieve in Christ, they shall certainly have everlasting Life: John 6.47. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting Life.
• 5. Teach them the nature and necessity of Re­pentance, and press home upon them such Scrip­tures as may stir them up to the practice and exer­cise of Repentance; if you can by any means bring them to a true and unfeigned Repentance, you shall thereby save their Souls: Ezek. 33.14, 16. Again, when I say to the Wicked, Thou shalt surely die, if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right— he shall surely live.
• 6. Teach them to serve and obey the Lord Jesus Christ; for he will save all those that obey him: Heb. 5.9. He became the Author of eternal Salvation to them that obey him
• 7. Teach them to love God with all their Hearts and Souls; and to love Him above all Persons and Things that are in the world: Eternal Life is promi­sed [Page 104]to such as love God: Jam. 1.12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
• 8. Teach them to fear and reverence the Lord; and that you may breed the fear of the Lord in their Souls, acquaint them with the Power, Holiness, Goodness, Justice, Omniscience, and Omnipre­sence of God, and his other glorious Attributes: for the fear of the Lord ariseth from, and is produ­ced by the knowledge of God, Job 37.23, 24. Prov. 2.5. and put them in mind of Gods Covenant, wherein the Lord hath promised to put his fear into our hearts, Jer. 32.40. If you can bring your Fa­milies to fear the Lord, you shall save their Souls; Prov. 19.23. The fear of the Lord tendeth to life; Psal. 145.19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him, he also will hear their Cry, and will save them.
• 9. Teach them to hope in God, for all those good things which are promised in the Covenant of Grace, and to keep up their hope in God under all their troubles and temptations; by hoping in God, they shall obtain the salvation of their Souls, Rom. 8.24. We are saved by hope.
• 10. Teach them the nature of Prayer, to whom they must pray, and for what; and how they must pray, if they would find acceptance with God: The Lord Jesus taught his Disciples how to pray, and John the Baptist did the like to his Disciples, Luke 11.1. One of his Disciples said unto him, Lord teach us to pray, as John also taught his Disciples. By teaching your Families to call upon God in an acceptable manner, you shall promote their salvation; For who­soever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be sa­ved, Rom. 10.13.
• [Page 105]11. Teach them to be sincere, and to walk up­rightly with God; for if they walk uprightly they shall be saved; Prov. 28.18. Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved.
• 12. Teach them to wait upon God in all his Or­dinances, and to wait for the accomplishment of all his Promises. They that wait on the Lord are under a promise of Salvation: Prov. 20.22. Wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
• 13. Teach them the way to obtain the Remission of their sins: for if they obtain the pardon of their sins, they shall be in a blessed condition; Rom. 4.7. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven.—And shall obtain everlasting life; Rom. 8.30. Whom he justified, them he also glorified.
• 14. Teach them to avoid evil company, and to walk and converse with such as fear God, that may prove a means of their salvation, Prov. 9.6. Forsake the foolish and live; and go in the way of understanding: Prov. 15.20, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.
• 15. Exhort them to persevere in the faith of Christ, and to continue in their obedience of his Commandments as long as they live; for in so doing, they shall assuredly obtain everlasting life, Rev. 2.10. Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life: Matth. 24.13. He that shall endure to the end, the same 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 [Page 106]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 [Page 107]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, [Page 108]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 [Page 109]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 [Page 110]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 [Page 111]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 [Page 112]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 [Page 113]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 [Page 114]should take for the doing this work: 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 [Page 115]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 [Page 116]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 [Page 117]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 [Page 118]them continually upon 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 [Page 119]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 [Page 120]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 [Page 121]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 Ʋsefulness 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 [Page 122]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, 'tis 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 [Page 123]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 [Page 124]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 made the same Jesus whom you have crucified, both Lord [Page 126]Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart— 2. To demonstrate to them out of the word of God the evil and danger of those things for which you rebuke them: for Gods word is called the Sword of the Spirit, Ephes. 6.17. No sword cuts and pierces like the sword of the Spirit. For 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 the Joynts and Marrow, and is a Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, Heb. 4.12.

6. Reprove with wisdom, for when a Reproof is managed wisely, it becomes more amiable and suc­cessful, Prov. 25.12. As an ear-ring of Gold, and an Ornament of fine Gold, so is a wise Reprover upon an obedient ear. Our wisdom must be discovered in ta­king the fittest time for giving a Reproof, and doing it in a judicious manner, Eccles. 8.5. A wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgment: We must take the fittest time, we must not defer too long: We must do it when we are in the best capacity to give, and the offending party to receive a Reproof: We must re­prove with Judgement, which will teach us to weigh and consider the nature of the Offence, and the Offender. Some persons are of a more softly yield­ing disposition than others; a word will do more with one, than many blows with another; Prov. 17.10. A Reproof entreth more into a wise man, than a hun­dred stripes into a fool. Some Offences are more hei­nous for their own nature, and for their circumstan­ces, than others. In some cases we are to rebuke secretly, Mat. 18.15. — Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone.—In some cases we are to rebuke publickly in the presence of all, 1 Tim. 5.20. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also [Page 127]may fear. Wisdom will direct us what to do in these and other such like Cases, Eccles. 10.10. Wis­is profitable to direct. And that we may manage this work the more wisely, we must not go about it rashly, but consult with our selves about the fittest season and best manner of giving a Reproof: Neb. 5.7. Then I consulted with my self, and rebuked the No­bles, Prov. 13.10. With the well-advised is wisdom.

7. Look to God for Direction, Courage, and Success, in giving a Reproof, and rest upon him for his blessing; for the success of every work we take in hand, depends upon Gods blessing: And there­fore we must pray to God to assist, accept, and pros­per us in this work. And as we must pray, so also rest upon God for his blessing in the administring a Reproof; whether it be to such as are unconverted, or to such as are in a state of Grace; for God hath promised to bless Reproof to both sorts: To such as are gracious, Prov. 19.25. Reprove one that hath un­derstanding, and he will understand knowledge: To such as are yet in their sins, Pro. 24.25. To them that rebuke him (that is, a wicked person spoken of ver. 24.) shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

8. Reprove and tell them of their faults with a tender compassionate heart, not in an insulting way, or in a way of jesting or jearing, but rather mourn­ing over them, and for them; Phil. 3.18. Many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are Enemies of the Cross of Christ.—When the Apostle wrote an Epistle to the Corinthi­ans to reprove them for their indulging the incestu­ous person, he tells them, Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you, with many tears, 2 Cor. 2.4.

SECT. 8. The Benefits of Correction. Directions for Correcting Children.

Direct. 8 IF Reproofs do not prevail with your Children to practise those things which you teach them out of the Scriptures, correct them. Correction joyned with Instruction, rightly admini­stred, is the way to make our Children holy and gracious, Prov. 19.15. The Rod and Reproof give Wis­dom, but a Child left to himself bringeth his Mother to shame. It maketh Children prove great blessings and comforts to their Parents, Prov. 29.17. Correct thy Son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give de­light unto thy Soul: Correction will be a means of preventing their eternal Damnation, by effecting their Reformation, Prov. 23.13, 14. With-hold not Correction from the Child, for if thou beatest him with the Rod, he shall not die: Thou shalt beat him with the Rod, and shalt deliver his Soul from Hell. Though they be never so much addicted to any sin, which seems to be deeply and fast rooted in their Souls, Corre­ction prudently and rightly administred, will be a means to reform them, and make them leave their sins: Prov. 22.15. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a Child, but the Rod of Correction will drive it far from him: Prov. 20.30. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil, so do stripes the inward parts of the Belly.

If any ask, How should we correct our Children so as to make our Corrections become effectual for their good?

I answer:

1. Begin with them betimes, before they have got too great an head, or are habituated to sin: A Twig is easily bent and made straight whilst it is young, but being let alone for some years, it be­comes inflexible: Prov. 19.18. Chasten thy Son while there is hope: Prov. 13.24. He that spareth his Rod, hateth his Son, but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

2. Be not overcome with fond pity, either by their crying or pleading with you to with-hold cor­rection from them when you see it meet and neces­sary to correct them; Prov. 19.18. Chasten thy Son while there is hope, and let not thy Soul spare for his cry­ing: They had better cry and roar under your Rod, than roar under Gods wrath in Hell to all Eter­nity.

3. Joyn Faith and Prayer with your Corrections. Pray to God to bless the Corrections as well as the Instructions which you give your Children; and though you see no present fruit of your Corrections, yet be not discouraged, but rest upon Gods promi­ses, who hath promised that Correction shall make our Children leave their sins, Prov. 22.15. and be a means to save their souls, Prov. 23.13, 14.

4. In correcting your Children, imitate God in correcting his Children: As for instance, 1. God joyns Instruction with Correction, and thereby his Corrections come to have a blessed effect upon his Children: Psal. 94.12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and reachest him out of thy Law: Deal thus with your Children; when you chasten them, teach them out of the Scriptures the evil of those things for which you correct them. 2. When God [Page 130]chastens, he doth not only shew us our sins, but layeth his commands upon us, to leave off our sins, Job 36.8, 9, 10. If they be holden in cords of affliction, then he sheweth them their work and their transgression that they have exceeded; he openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. So should you charge and command your Children that they sin no more when you correct them. 3. God is not extream to correct for every small fault, Psal. 130.3. If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord who shall stand? If any thing be done ignorantly, he is ready to wink at that, Acts 17.30. The times of this ignorance God winked at— 4. God distinguisheth between his Children: Such as are dutiful diligent Children, shall not be corrected so smartly as those that are careless and negligent, Mal. 3.17. I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him. 5. When Gods dearest Children need Cor­rection, and he seeth it is for their good, they shall have it as well as others: So should you do; If you have any Child which is dearer and more delightful than the rest, you should correct that as well as the others, when it needs Correction. Prov. 3.12. Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth. 6. The Lord corrects in mea­sure, Jer. 30.11. I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. He is careful not to break or sink his peoples Spirits by his Correcti­ons; Isa. 57.16. I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth, for the Spirit should fail before me, and the Soul which I have made. In like manner, you should be careful that you do not correct your Children out of measure, or so as to sink and quench their Spirits. 7. God doth not correct his Chil­dren in anger, but out of love, Rev. 3.19. As many [Page 131]as I love, I rebuke and chasten: And as he corrects in love, so he doth aim at their good, Heb. 12.10. They verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his Holiness. In like manner, when you correct your Children, let it not be in passion, but out of love to their Souls, and with a desire and design to do them good. 8. God tries to reform his Children first by lesser and more gentle afflictions; and when they will not prevail to reform them, then he deals more severely with them, and will not leave follow­ing them with one correction after another, till he hath humbled and reformed them, Isa. 9.1. At the first he lightly afflicted the Land of Zebulun and Naph­thali, and afterwards did more grievously afflict her by the way of the Sea: Lev. 26.23, 24. If ye will not be reformed by these things, but will walk contrary unto me, then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. So should you first try more gentle means, and if that will not prevail, chastise them more severely, and be not discoura­ged from instructing and correcting them, till you have humbled and subdued their spirits, and caused them to reform their lives.

SECT. 9. How to keep up our Authority over our Children and Servants.

Direct. 9 IT will conduce much to the rendring of those Instructions which you give your Families, more powerful and effectual, to keep up your Authority in your Families, and so to carry your selves that your Children and Servants may re­verence and respect you. It is said of Christ, Mat. 7.28, 29. The people were astonished at his Doctrine, for he taught them as one having authority—And what followed hereupon? His word became very power­ful, Luke 4.32. They were astonished at his Doctrine, for his word was with power. When persons reve­rence those that teach them, it causeth their Do­ctrine to work the more effectually upon their hearts and lives, Mark 6.20. Herod feared John—and when he heard him he did many things, and heard him gladly.

If you say, What course should we take that we may keep up our Authority, and be reverenced in our Fa­milies?

I answer:

First, Be careful to honour God, to submit and subject your selves unto him, and then he will cause your Families to honour you, and to submit and sub­ject themselves to your Commands; It is God that inclines mens hearts to honour us, 1 Chron. 29.12. Both Riches and Honour come of thee: And when we are vilified, flighted, and disregarded, this also is of God, Psal. 44.13. Thou makest us a reproach to our [Page 133]Neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us: It is God that subdues the hearts of Chil­dren and Servants, and other inferiours, and makes them subject to their Superiours, Psal. 18.47. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. And it is a Judgment which the Lord layeth upon us, when our Children or Servants carry themselves proudly or disobediently towards us: Isa. 3.5. The Child shall behave himself proudly against the Ancient, and the Base against the Honourable. Now if we be careful to glorifie God, he will cause us to be honoured; if we slight or disregard him, he will cause us to be despised: 1 Sam. 2.30. Them that ho­nour me, I will honour; and they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed. If we submit our selves to God, he will cause our Wives, and Children, and Servants to submit themselves unto us, James 4.7, 10. Submit your selves therefore to God,—Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up: By lifting up, is not only meant deliverance out of trouble, but it implieth also that God will cause those that submit themselves to him to be honoured and reverenced, he will lift them up in the hearts and estimation of all sorts of men, that they shall carry themselves respectively towards them. But if we rebel against God, he will raise up evil against us out of our own Houses, and cause some or other of our Families to carry themselves rebelliously and contemptuously towards us. Thus when David had despised the Commandment of the Lord, God raised up evil against him out of his own House, 2 Sam. 12.9, 11. Whilst he walked in the ways of God, all sorts of persons, strangers as well as his own people, were subject to him; Psal. 18.43, 44. A people whom I have not known shall serve me; as soon as they hear of [Page 134]me, they shall obey me, the strangers shall submit them­selves unto me. But when he turned aside from God, Sbimei one of his Servants curseth him to his face, and his own Son Absolom riseth up in Rebellion a­gainst him.

Secondly, When your Children carry themselves undutifully or irreverently towards you, or do any thing that is sinful and displeasing to God, reprove them, and if Reproofs do not make them amend, correct them: This will make them give you reve­rence: Heb. 12.9. We have had Fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence, shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live?

Thirdly, Avoid frowardness, intemperance, and all other vices, and carry your Souls in a holy gra­cious and exemplary manner: for if you be addicted to any sin, that will bring you under contempt, Prov. 14.34. Righteousness exalteth a Nation, but sin is a re­proach to any people. Yea, even such as have honour­ed you formerly, and had you in high esteem, if they come to understand that you are tainted with any Vice, they will be ready to despise you: Lam. 1.8. Jerusalem hath grievously finned, and therefore she is removed: All that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness. But by walking in an holy gra­cious exemplary manner, you shall be reverenced not only by such as are gracious themselves, but by those that are destitute of the grace of God: Herod was not a good man himself, our Saviour calleth him a Fox, Luk. 13.23. because he was a subtil and cruel Enemy to Jesus Christ, and to the Christian Religion, Luke 13.31, 32. Yet John the Baptist being an holy man, Herod reverenced him, Mark 6.20. Herod feared John, knowing that be was a just man, and holy, [Page 135]and observed him: Prov. 22.4. By humility and the fear of the Lord, are Riches, and Honour, and Life. And as an holy Conversation will procure Honour and Re­spect, so also it will preserve the same; Prov. 11.16. A gracious woman retaineth honour.

Fourthly, Carry your selves wisely and discreet­ly in the managing of your Family Affairs: for, A mans wisdom maketh his face to shine, Eccles. 8.1. But foolish and indiscreet carriage will cause us to be slighted and disrespected, Eccles. 10.1. Dead flies cause the Ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour, so doth a little folly him that is in Repu­tation for Wisdom and Honour.

Fifthly, Do not carry your selves lightly & vainly in your Families, but let your deportment be grave and serious, that will be a means to keep your Chil­dren and Servants in due subjection, 1 Tim. 3.4. One that ruleth well his own House, having his Children in subjection with all gravity. He cannot rule his House well, that doth not keep his Children in subjection, for if the Children be unruly, the Servants will be so too; and a man shall hardly keep his Children in subjection, if his carriage be not grave and seri­ous.

Sixthly, Use not over-much familiarity or delicacy towards your Children and Servants, especially when your Children are grown up to some maturity, for familiarity will be apt to breed contempt, and make Children and Servants to cast off that awe and dread which they ought to bear towards their Parents and Masters: Children are commanded not only to love, but to fear their Parents, Lev. 19.3. Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father: And Servants are commanded to fear their Masters, Ephes. 6.5. Ser­vants be obedient to them that are your Masters according [Page 136]to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart as unto Christ. Over-much familiarity will cause them to cast off this fear: Solomon giveth us a caution against using too much delicacy towards our Servants, as that which will spoil them, and make them prove great Crosses; Prov. 29.21. He that de­licately bringeth up his Servant from a Child, shall have him become his Son at length. The vulgar Latin ren­ders the words, Postea sentiet eum contumacem; He shall find him to be stubborn and obstinate. Pagnine renders the words, In novissimo crit superbus perinde ac filius; He will become proud, and expect to be dealt with as if he were a Son, and not a Servant: When instead of that gravity and distance which ought to be in the carriage of Masters and Parents, they will be so familiar as to play with their Ser­vants and Children, this makes them to lose their authority, according to the Proverb in use among the Arabians, Collusio sive jocus aufert reverentiam; Playing and Jesting takes away a Mans Reve­rence: If we use to jest and sport with our Ser­vants or Children, we must expect no more Re­verence from them. And therefore the Son of Syrach gives this Advice to Parents, Ecclus. 30.9, 10. Cocker thy Child, and he shall make thee afraid; play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness; laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end. And Plato speak­ing of our carriage towards our Servants, in his Dialogue de legibus, gives this prudent Advice, Ne­que jocus ullus, cum illis habeatur, quod multi stultè facientes, dum delicatius eos nutriunt, difficiliorem viam & sibi ad imperandum, & illis ad obediendum reddunt. Do not use at any time to jest with your Servants, which thing many doing foolishly, do make it more [Page 137]difficult for themselves to govern, and also more dif­ficult for their Servants to obey, by their training them up delicately. Only here it will be needful to hint, that whilst you labour to carry your selves with gravity, and to avoid too much familiarity, you had need be careful that you do not become mo­rose or austere, but rather endeavour to express much sweetness and candor in your carriage towards your Children and Servants. There was laid up in the Ark Aarons Rod, and the Pot with Manna, and the Tables of the Covenant: Greg. mag. hath an observation hereupon to this effect, He that would govern well, must be furnished with the knowledge of the Scriptures, and must make use of the Rod of Correction, yet so, as there must be the sweetness of Manna with it. We should labour if it be possible to win our Chil­dren by love to observe the Commandments of God, but if they will not be drawn with Manna, then we must make use of Aron's Rod, and when we are necessitated to use severity, it must be tempered with mercy.

SECT. 10. How to gain our Childrens and Servants affections.

Direct. 10 IT will conduce much to the rendring of this work of Family-Instruction suc­cessful, so to carry your selves as that you may have the love, and gain the affections of those that are under your charge: for if our Children and Ser­vants do not only fear and reverence us, but also love us, the Instructions that we give them will be the better accepted, and make the deeper impression up­on their hearts. The Apostle Paul knowing Philemon lov'd him, was confident he would follow the counsel he gave him, Phil. 7.21. We have great joy—in thy love,—having confidence in thy obedience, &c. [Page 138]The like confidence he had of the Thess alonians, 2 Thes. 3.4. We have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the thing which we com­mand you. And they were such as bore a great affe­ction to the Apostle, 1 Thes. 3.6. If there be a dis­affection to the person that instructs, his Doctrine will do little good. Ahab hating Micaiah, received no good by his Prophecies, but went on in his own way, contrary to the good counsel of Michaiah, whereby he brought destruction upon himself.

If any say, How should we so carry our selves as to get the Love and Affection of our Children and Ser­vants?

I answer:

First, Shew your selves 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 [Page 139]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 transgr [...]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 [Page 140]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. [Page 142] 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 [Page 145]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 [Page 146]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 these: Rev. 22.17. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come; and let him that heareth say, Come; and let him that is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take of the Water of Life freely: Isa. 55.1. Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the Waters, and he that hath no money, come ye buy and eat, yea come and buy wine and milk without money and with­out [Page 147]price: Joh. 7.37. In the last day, that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink: John 6.37. Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. The understanding of Christs love, how willing and ready he is to receive such as come to him, will be a powerful means to draw their Souls to Christ, Jer. 31.3. With loving kindness have I drawn thee: Hos. 11.4. I drew them with the Cords of a man, with the bands of love.

Fourthly, Inform them what Jesus Christ expect­eth from those that come to him, and close with him, if they would be owned by him for true Disciples, and such as shall partake of his saving benefits: As,

• 1. They must abandon all their sins, 2 Tim. 2.19. Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ, depart from iniquity.
• 2. They must deny themselves, and take up their Cross, and follow Christ, Mark 8.34. Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me: Luke 14.27. Whosoever doth not bear his Cross, and come after me, cannot be my Disciple.
• 3. They must love and prefer Christ above all their Relations, and whatsoever else is dear to them in the whole world, Matth. 10.37. He that loveth Father or Mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.
• 4. They must take his yoke upon them, and sub­mit to his Government, and obey his Commands; Matth. 11.29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall find rest unto your Souls: John 14.15. If ye love me, keep my Commandments: John 15.14. Ye are my Friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
• [Page 148]5. They must continue believing in Christ, and walking in his ways as long as they live, John 8.31. Then said Jesus unto those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my words, then are ye my Disciples indeed. Let them know also that the Lord Jesus doth not ex­pect that they should do these things in their own strength; but that if they look up unto him, he will give them his holy Spirit to enable them to do all these things, and whatsoever else he requireth of them: Ezek. 36.27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my Statutes, and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them.

Fifthly, Fortifie them against the Offence and Scandal of the Cross of Christ, that they may not revolt and depart from Christ after they have em­braced him, when they shall meet with troubles and persecutions for the Gospels sake, as many are apt to do; Matth. 13.21. Yet hath he not Root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended.

If you ask, How shall we 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?

I answer:

First, Tell them at their entrance into Christia­nity what they must expect to meet withal, if they will be Christians indeed. Let them know they shall be hated in the world, 2 Tim. 3.12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Luke 21.12. Ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake, and must look for Reproaches, Confiscation of [Page 149]Goods, Imprisonment, and all sorts of persecution. This was the means that Christ used to keep his Dis­ciples from being offended at the troubles should come upon them: He told them before hand what they must expect to meet with, John 16.1, 2. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offen­ded: They shall put you out of the Synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service. As it is with those that build an House or a Tower, they should first sit down and consider what will be the cost and charges that they must be at in building, Luke 14.28, 29, 30. Which of you intending to build a Tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, say­ing, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. So they who have a purpose to become Christians, had need count what it may cost them to be Christi­ans indeed; they must count upon it, that for ought they know, it may cost them the loss of all things, even of their Lives, and see whether they are willing to become Christians on these terms, lest after they are entred into the ways of Christ, they should de­part from them when they meet with persecutions for the Gospels sake, and so become a reproach and and scandal to Religion.

2. Inform them that unless they be willing and re­solved to suffer the loss of all things for Christ, when they are called to it, they cannot be the Disciples of Christ, Luke 14.33. Whosoever he be of you, that forsa­keth not all that he hath, he cannot be my Disciple. And if they go about to save their Lives, when the Lord Jesus calleth them to lay them down, they shall lose eternal Life: Mark 8.35. Whosoever will save his life, [Page 150]shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospels, the same shall save it.

Thirdly, That they may not be discouraged from embracing the Lord Jesus, and the Christian Reli­gion because of those sufferings that they must ex­pect to meet with in the profession and practise of the ways of Christ, propose to them such considerati­ons as may encourage them to embrace the Cross of Christ with chearfulness: As,

• 1. Whatsoever losses they sustain on the Account of Christ or his Gospel, shall be made up to them with an hundred-fold advantage in this life, and if not in the same kind, yet in some other thing which is as good or better, besides the recompence that they shall have in the world to come, Mark 10.29, 30. Verily, I say unto you, There is no man that hath left House, or Brethren, or Sisters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands, for my sake and the Go­spels, but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, Houses, and Brethren and Sisters, and Mothers, and Children, and Lands, with persecution, and in the world to come life everlasting.
• 2. The sufferings of this present life will increase our glory in the world to come: 2 Cor. 4.17. Our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. The glory of Heaven doth so far exceed the sufferings of this present life, that they are not worthy to be com­pared together, Rom. 8.18. For I reckon that the suffer­ings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.—
• 3. It is our happiness and not our misery, to suf­fer Reproaches and persecutions for Christs sake, and it should fill us with joy, rather than cast us down with sorrow, when we meet with any sufferings for [Page 151]Righteousness sake: Matth. 5.10, 11, 12. Blessed are they which are persecuted for Righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall speak all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake, re­joyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your Reward in Heaven: 1 Pet. 4.13, 14. Rejoyce inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy: If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of God and of Glory resteth upon you. There is a greater excellency in suffering for Christ, than in enjoying all the riches of the world, and it is far more eligible to endure the sharpest afflictions, than to enjoy the delights and pleasures of sin, Heb. 11.25. Chusing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of GOD, than to enjoy the pleasures of Sin for a season; esteeming the Reproaches of Christ (even those things that are most hard to be born) greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt, or all the enjoyments in the World.
• 4. God will not suffer any man to be afflicted for Christ or the Gospels sake, above what he will enable him to bear: 1 Cor. 10.13. God is Faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, but will also with the Temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. And when we do suffer for Christs sake, the Lord will be with us in all our sufferings: 2 Cor. 4.9. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not in despair: Isaiah 43.2. When thou passest through the Waters, I will be with thee: Psalm 91.15. I will be with him in trou­ble, &c.
• [Page 152]5. The more we suffer for Christ, the more abundant consolation we shall have from Christ, 2 Cor. 1.5. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our Consolation also aboundeth by Christ; And we shall find more delight in our Consolations, than we do grief in our sufferings, Psal. 94.19. In the mul­titude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul.

Fourthly, Put them in mind of the great things which Jesus Christ hath suffered for them: He be­came poor for our sakes, 2 Cor 8.9. He gave his Body to be broken for us, he made his Soul an offering for our sins, &c. The consideration of what Christ hath suffered for us, and how willingly he suffered for us ( I gave my Back to the smiters, and my Cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting, Isa. 50.6.) will make us wil­ling to suffer for him, and keep us from fainting under our Sufferings: Heb. 12.3. Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, who for the Joy that was set before him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God: for consider him that endu­red such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied, and faint in your minds.

SECT. 13. The advantage of knowing the state of our Families. How we may come to know their state.

Direct. 13 ENdeavour to know the state of every Member of your Families; consi­der who of them are in a state of grace, and who abide still in an unregenerate condition: As for such as are converted, see whether they make any progress, and grow in grace, or whether they stand at a stay, or decline and go backward, Prov. 27.24. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy Flocks, and look well to thy Herds. If a man must be diligent to know the state of his Flocks and Herds, whether they be sound or diseased, how much more doth it concern him to know the state of his Wife, and Children, and Servants, whether they be in a state of Grace, or a state of Nature. Estius and Beda, and some others, apply this passage of the Proverbs to those that have the care of Souls committed to their Charge; The Arabian Translation favours this interpretation, Cog­nosce animos gregis tui cognitione perfecta: And the Sept. [...].

The knowledge of the state of our Families will help us,

• 1. To instruct them in those things that are most suitable to their state, and will conduce much to their edification: Heb. 10.24. Let us consider one ano­ther to provoke unto love and good works: By consider­ing and observing wherein they are deficient, whe­ther in Love, or any other Grace, as Meekness, Pati­ence, Heavenly-mindedness, Temperance, or the like, we have an advantage to apply our selves to them, in a way suitable to their necessities, that we [Page 154]may provoke them to seek after those things where­in they are most defective.
• 2. The knowledge of their state will enable us to apply suitable comforts to them, if they be deject­ed and cast down, either by inward or outward trou­bles: Col. 4.8. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts.
• 3. It will tend much to our own comfort, if they be in a good estate; Phil. 2.19. That I may be of good comfort when I know your state.
• 4. It will help us in our Prayers for them, and praising God upon their accompt. When the Apo­stle understood the good estate of the Thessalonians, it did greatly excite him to thanksgiving and prayer, 1 Thes. 1.2, 3. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembring with­out ceasing your work of Faith and labour of Love, and patience of Hope, &c. The like we may see on the be­half of the Colossians, Col. 1.3, 4.

If any say, How should we come to know the state of our Families?

I answer:

• 1. By communing with the several members of our Families, and examing them whhat workings they have had upon their Souls, and whether they have any enjoyment of God in his Ordinances, and putting searching questions to them, Psal. 139.23. Search me, O God, and know my heart: and vers. 1. O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me. As Joseph inquired into the state of his Brethren, Gen. 43.7. The man asked us straitly of our state—saying, is your Father yet alive, have you another Brother? So should we inquire diligently into the state of our Children and Servants, by questioning with them about their [Page 155]conditions: As examining our selves, is the way to know our own estate, 2 Cor. 13.5. So examining of others, is the the way to know anothers state; but of this more in the next Direction.
• 2. By observing their carriage and conversation, we may know their state; Prov. 20.11. Even a Child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whe­ther it be right. As the Tree, so also a man is known by his Fruits; Matth. 7.20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. The Apostle Peter by observing Simon Magus his carriage, plainly perceived, That notwithstanding he made a profession of faith, yet he was in an unregenerate condition, Acts 8.23. I per­ceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. And David, by observing the sinful carriage of some men in his days, concluded that they were wicked men, and that they had no fear of God before their eyes, Psal. 36.1. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, there is no fear of God before his eyes.

SECT. 14. Of communing with our Children & Servants about their spiritual state. What questions we should put to them.

Direct. 14 THat you may know the state of your Families, and carry on the work of Family-Instruction the more successfully, It will be good to take some time to discourse with them apart, about their spiritual state, and to examine them in such points as are of greatest concernment to their Souls. And when you are communing with and ex­amining them, it will not be amiss to put such kind of questions to them, as our Lord Jesus Christ did now and then put to his Disciples and others that were instructed by him: As for instance: [Page 156]

• 1. Try whether they understand those things which you have taught them. Thus Christ exa­mines his Disciples, Matth. 13.51. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? See what apprehensions they have of Jesus Christ, of his Per­son, his Offices, his Design in coming into the world, Matth. 16.15. Whom say ye that I am? Matth. 18.11, 12. The Son of man is come to save that which was lost: How think ye?
• 2. Examine them about their Faith, John 16.31. Do ye now believe? Luke 8.25. He said unto them, Where is your Faith?
• 3. Enquire whether they do believe and apply the Promises, John 11.26. Whosoever liveth and belie­veth in me, shall never die; believest thou this? And whether they believe that Christ is able and willing to help them in all their straights, Matth. 9.28. Je­sus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this?
• 4. Enquire whether they are convinced of their impotent condition, that they are unable of them­selves to do or speak any thing that is good: Matth. 12.34. How can ye, being evil, speak good things?
• 5. Commune with them about their love to Christ, whether they love Jesus Christ above all things and persons in the world? John 21.15. Jesus saith to Si­mon Peter, Simon, Son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
• 6. Ask them about their ability and willingness to suffer for Christ, as, Whether they are wil­ling to take up his Cross, whether they could lay down their lives, and suffer the loss of all they have for Christ: Mark 10.38. Jesus said unto them,—Can ye drink of the Cup that I drink of, and be baptized with the Baptism that I am baptized with?
• 7. Enquire what frame of heart they have; whe­ther [Page 157]they have hard or soft, earthly or spiritual, ig­norant or understanding hearts: Mark 8.17. Per­ceive ye not yet, neither understand? Have ye your hearts yet hardened?
• 8. Ask them what ground they have to hope that God will deliver them from eternal Damnation? Matth. 23.33. How can ye escape the Damnation of Hell?
• 9. Enquire how they spend their time when they are alone, and what manner of discourse they have, when they are with others; whether it be savoury, profitable, and such as makes for Gods glory? Luke 24.17. He said, What manner of Communications are these, that ye have one to another, as ye walk and are sad?
• 10. Enquire if they read the Scriptures, and how and in what manner they read the Word of God; whether they do it with an attentive mind, with a desire to profit by it, &c. Luk. 10.26. He said unto him, What is written in the Law? How readest thou?
• 11. Examine what they aim at in going to hear the Word of God, as Christ did those that followed John the Baptist into the Wilderness, Matth. 11.7. What went ye out into the Wilderness to see?
• 12. Try whether they are able to resolve the ob­jections that may be brought against the main Arti­cles of their Faith: Thus our Lord Jesus tried his Followers with a difficult question, How Christ could be the Son of David, when as David called him Lord? Mark 12.35, 36, 37. David himself cal­leth him Lord, whence is he then his Son?
• 13. If any of them are of a doubting troubled spirit, perplexed with fears, enquire into the Grounds and Causes of their Fears and Doubts, [Page 158]and whatever other troubles are upon their minds, Luke 24.38. He said unto them why are you troubled?
• 14. Ask them, Wherein they excel others that want a Principle of Grace? What they do more than a natural man, a man that hath nothing more than a Form of Godliness? Matth. 5.47. What do you more than others?

These and what other questions you shall judge meet, you may put to them, when you are dis­coursing with them: As, Whether they pray? How and in what manner they pray? Whether they have any answer of their prayers? What tem­ptations they meet with? Whether they are pre­pared for Death? Whether they enjoy communion with God in his Ordinances? Whether they find Sin decaying, and Grace increasing? &c. And when you put any questions to them, cause them to return an answer; as Christ, when he was reason­ing with the Jews, called upon them to answer the question that he put to them, Mar. 11.29. Jesus said unto them, I will ask you one question, and answer me. This communing with our Families about their spiritual estate, is seasonable at all times, but more especially when any of them are in affliction, and when they are under some eminent workings and stirrings of the Spirit of God, or when they are assaulted with temptations, or when they are to par­take of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.

SECT. 15. How to instil Grace into the Ʋnconverted. What Coun­sel to give to such as profit by our Instructions. How to deal with such as do not profit by our Instructi­ons. How with such as rest in a Form of Godli­ness. How with such as are in a declining condition.

Direct. 15 ACcording to the state and condition that you find your Family to be in, apply your instruction suitable to the case of the se­veral Members thereof: As for instance:

First, If you find any of your Children or Ser­vants to be in an unconverted condition, endeavour as far as in you lieth to instil Grace into their hearts, and to convert them to God; Psal. 34.16. Come ye Children, hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. We should not only teach our Children to know the Lord, but we must also teach them to fear the Lord. It may be you will say, Can we instil Grace into our Children? Can we put the fear of God in­to their hearts? Can we give them Repentance? I an­swer, No; but we may use the means, and in so do­ing we may hope for Gods blessing.

If you ask,

What means should we use to instil Grace into, and convert such of our Families as are in a graceless un­converted condition?

I answer:

• 1. Warn them of the danger of a graceless uncon­verted condition; tell them, That except they be con­verted, they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 18.3. and that if they do not repent, they will most certainly perish, & be cast into everlasting burn­ings, Luk. 13.3. Mat. 13.41, 42. And therefore warn them often of the danger of living and dying in an impenitent condition. [Page 160]Warning persons of the danger and damnable na­ture of sin, is an effectual means to prevent their dying in their sins, and to bring them to repentance and salvation: 2 Chron. 19.10. Ye shall warn them that they trespass not against the Lord: Ezek. 3.21. He shall surely live because he is warned, Ezek. 33.5. He that taketh warning shall deliver his Soul. If you find that after many warnings there is no amend­ment, yet cease not to warn them day after day, and year after year, and that with much tenderness, till you see some fruit of your labours, Act. 20.31. By the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
• 2. Take all occasions to discourse with them a­bout the things of God, especially of those things wherein you have formerly instructed them out of the Word of God. Good Discourse is a means of conveying Grace to those with whom we converse; Ephes. 4.29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edi­fying, that it may minister Grace to the Hearers.
• 3. Reprove them when they do that which is contrary to the Will of God; and if Reproofs will not make them reform, joyn Correction with Re­proof: Reproof and Correction are means of in­stilling grace into our Children: Prov. 29.15. The Rod and Reproof give Wisdom.
• 4. Stir them up to consider their ways, how con­trary they are to the Word of God, and what will be the fruit and effect of their sins, if they repent not. A serious consideration of our ways, is a means of leading us to repentance, Psal. 119.59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy Testi­monies: Ezek. 18.28. Because he considereth and turn­eth away from all his transgressions.
• [Page 161]5. Stir them up to read and meditate upon the Word of God, that may be a means of converting their Souls; Psal. 19.7. The Law of the Lord is per­fect, converting the Soul.
• 6. Cause them to attend upon the Publick Mini­stry of the Word: The preaching of the Word is the usual means of working Grace in our hearts, Jam. 1.18. Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth, Acts 10.44. While Peter yet spake these words, the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word.
• 7. Exhort them to forsake ungodly company, and to walk and converse with them that fear God, Prov. 9.6. Forsake the foolish and live, and walk in the way of understanding: Prov. 13.20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.
• 8. Be earnest with God to give them saving Grace: By prayer to God, we may obtain Grace for others, as well as for our own Souls: 1 John 5.16. If any man see his Brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life, for them that sin not unto death.

Secondly, If upon discoursing with your Families you find they profit by the Instructions you give them, and that they obey from the heart that Form of Doctrine which you deliver to them, and that they grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of JE­SUS CHRIST: Then,

• 1. Be thankful to God for blessing your Labours, Rom. 6.17. God be thanked that ye were the Servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Do­ctrine which was delivered you.
• 2. Love the Lord for causing your Family to flourish and prosper by those instructions that you give them: Cant. 7.11, 12. Come my Beloved,—let us go up early to the Vineyards, let us see if the Vine flou­rish, [Page 162]whether the tender Grape appear, and the Pomegra­nates bud forth; there will I give thee my loves. Our Families may be compated to Vineyards; the Wife is resembled by the Psalmist to a Vine, and the Chil­dren to Olive-Plants, Psal. 128.3. The Governour of the Family is placed in this Vineyard as Adam was in Eden, to dress it and to keep it: Now such of us as are made keepers of Vineyards, should be often looking whether the Vine flourish, whether the tender Grape appear; and when we go about this work, we should call to CHRIST, to go with us, and assist us: And if we find any Grapes, though they be but tender; yea, if we perceive but any Buds, any thing that gives us hope of Fruit, we should give the Lord JESUS not only our love, but our loves; that is, we should love him abun­dantly; for 'tis He that gives a Blessing to our La­bours; 1 Cor. 3.6. I have planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the increase.
• 3. Exhort them to look to themselves, that they do not lose what you have by Gods Blessing wrought in them, that so neither you nor they may lose your Reward; 2 John 8. Look to your selves, that ye lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we may re­ceive a full Reward. When Jesus saw some of the Jews believing, he exhorted and incouraged them to continue in his word; John 8.30, 31. As he spake these words, many believed on him; then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my Disciples indeed.
• 4. Endeavour to make them more Fruitful. Thus God dealeth with his Children that bring forth fruit; he teacheth and helpeth them to bring forth more Fruit, John 15.2. Every Branch that beareth Fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more Fruit. [Page 163]The more fruitful any Christian is, the more glory he bringeth to God: vers. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.
• 5. Direct them to the right end in bearing Fruit, which is not any selfish interest; for that Fruit which is brought forth for selfish ends, is in Gods account as good as none; Hos. 10.1. Israel is an empty Vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself. The glorifying and pleasing God, is that which we must aim at in our bearing fruit; Rom. 7.4. That we should bring forth fruit unto God.
• 6. Endeavour that they may bring their fruit to perfection; and to that end, put them in mind that it is the will of God that we should not only labour to be holy, but that we should labour to perfect holiness in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7.1. And cauti­on them against those things which do hinder the seed of the Word from growing to perfection, as the cares of this life, pleasures, unmortified lusts, Luke 8.14. Mark 4.19. Keeping company with men of corrupt minds and corrupt conversations, 1 Cor. 15.33. Be not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners. Giving heed to such as teach false Doctrine, will endanger their overthrow, and prove destructive to them, 1 Tim. 4.1. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly, that in the latter times some shall de­part from the faith, giving heed to seducing Spirits— Seducers are those Foxes that spoil the Vine that hath tender Grapes, against whom the Church prays, Cant. 2.15. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes that spoil the Vines, for our Vines have tender Grapes.
• 7. Counsel them well to consider into what Fa­milies they dispose themselves, when God shall by his providence remove them out of your Family; [Page 164]That they do not for the gaining of more wa­ges, or easier work, put themselves into such Families where they shall have no instruction; lest that good Work which is begun in them cease, and come to nothing: While Jehoash was instructed, he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, 2 Kings 12.2. Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days, wherein Jehoiada the Priest instructed him: But when Jehoiada that instructed him was dead, Jehoash fell into Idolatry, and other great sins: 2 Chron. 24.17, 18, 19, 21.
• 8. If any of the Members of your Family do find that God hath done their Souls good by the Instructions that you have given them, counsel and exhort them by way of gratitude, if ever God shall give them Families, to teach and train up their Families in the knowledge of Gods Word.

Thirdly, If upon communing with your Fami­lies, you find they have gotten no good by those Instructions and godly Lessons which you have gi­ven them: Then,

• 1. Inform them what a great sin, and how dan­gerous it is, to enjoy great means of Grace, and to remain graceless and barren under them. Heb. 6.7.8. The Earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God; but that which beareth Thorns and Bryars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. Matth. 3.10. And now also the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees, therefore every Tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and is cast into the fire.
• 2. See whence their unprofitableness proceeds, [Page 165]whether the cause of it be in your selves, that you teach them things that are too high for them, or that you do not make things plain to their under­standings, or that you do not teach them by your Example as well as Doctrine, or that yo do not wa­ter your Seed that you sow, with your Prayers and tears, or that you teach them so seldom, or in such a slight manner. Or whether the cause of their un­profitableness be in themselves; as their not mind­ing what you teach them, their forgetfulness, &c. And where-ever the ground of their unprofitable­ness lieth, endeavour to get it removed.
• 3. Direct them what means they should use, that they may profit by what you teach them: as, 1. To look up to the Lord who alone can teach them to profit, Isa. 48.17. 2. To mingle the Word of God with faith, Heb. 4.2. 3. To meditate often on those things wherein they are instructed: Meditation on the Word of God will be a great help to their pro­fiting both in knowledge and grace: 1 Tim. 4.15. Meditate on these things—that thy profiting may appear unto all.

Fourthly, If upon discoursing with them, you find they rest in a form of Godliness, and have only a no­tional knowledge of the word of God, without the favour and practice of those Truths that you have taught them: Then,

• 1. Inform them that knowledge without practice will never make them happy: Joh. 13.17. but will aggravate their condemnation, and cause God to beat them with many stripes, Luk. 12.47. And that the form of Godli­ness will profit them nothing, but the life and power of Godliness will be profitable for all things, and give them an interest in all Gods promises, whether they concern this life, or the life to come, 1 Tim. 4.8.
• [Page 166]2. Direct them what means they should use, that they may not only have a barren and unfruitful no­tional knowledge of the things of God, but that they may relish, savour and practise what they know. As namely, 1. Exhort them to get Faith, Tempe­rance, Patience, Godliness, Brotherly Kindness, and Charity: The Apostle having spoken of these Gra­ces, saith, (2 Pet. 1.8.) If these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Exhort them to plead Gods Covenant, where God hath promised not only to put his Laws into our minds, that is, to give us the knowledge and remem­brance of his will, but also to write them in our hearts; that is, to incline our wills to embrace, love, and obey his Laws; Heb. 8.10. I will put my Laws in­to their minds, and write them in their hearts.
• 3. Stir them up to cry unto God who hath taught them to know his will, to encline their hearts to do his will, and to keep his Commandments: Psal. 119.36. Incline mine heart unto thy Testimonies: Psal. 143.10. Teach me to do thy will.

Fifthly, If you find any of your Family in a de­clining withering condition:

• 1. Warn them betimes of the evil of a decaying declining frame of spirit. The Church of Ephesus had many things for which Christ gives her great commendations, Rev. 2.2, 3. yet having lost her first love, he gives her a sharp rebuke, vers. 4.
• 2. Exhort them to remember whence they are fallen, and to repent and do their first works, lest God send some sudden and sore Judgment upon them, Rev. 2.5.
• 3. Stir them up to act their faith upon such pro­mises where God hath promised to heal our backsli­dings [Page 671]and restore our souls, and to recover us from a decayed frame of spirit, by causing us to grow in grace; as, Hos. 14.4, 5. I will heal their backslidings, I will love them freely—I will be as the dew unto Israel, he shall be as the Lilly, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. This promise is made unto Israel, that was fallen into great decay: Vers. 1. O Israel, thou hast fallen by thine iniquity: Israel was so far fallen, that God com­plains, O Israel, thou hast destroyed thy self: Yet to Israel, that was fallen thus low, God promiseth to heal their back-slidings, and to love them freely, and to be as the dew to them, and to cause them to grow as the Lily.

SECT. 16. Six Arguments for diligence in instructing our Fa­milies.

Direct. 16 IF you would carry on the work of Fa­mily-Instruction with success, ply it with diligence: Do not perform it in a slight, care­less, customary manner, but set your hearts to it, and do it with all the skill and might that you have. The Lord doth not only command us to teach our Chil­dren the Scriptures, but he requireth us to do this work with diligence: Deut. 6.7. Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children—This work is a good work, and every good work must be followed with diligence: 1 Tim. 5.10. If she have followed di­ligently every good work: The Apostle speaketh there of Widows; now if Widows, whose condition is oft attended with many difficulties and incumbrances, must follow every good work with diligence, how much more are they who have greater abilities and opportunities for doing good works, than desolate [Page 168]Widows, obliged to be diligent therein. We read of David, that when he prepared Materials to build the Temple, he did it with all his might; 1 Chron. 29.2. I have prepared with all my might for the House of my God, the Gold for things to be made of Gold, and Silver for things of Silver.—The building up of our Children and Servants a spiritual House for the Lord, is as great and acceptable a work as the build­ing of the material Temple, and thefore we should set upon it with all our might. To quicken your di­ligence herein, consider

1. You know not how short a time you have to live with your Families, and you can do nothing for them when you are in the Grave; and therefore what you see necessary to be done for them by way of instruction before you die, do it with all your 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.

2. To set your hearts to this work, and do it with your might, is the way to prosper in what you take in hand; 2 Chron. 31.21. In every work that he began in the service of the House of God, and in the Law, and in the Commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

3. There is a curse pronounced against them that do the work of the Lord negligently, Jer. 28.10. Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully, or (as it is in the Margin) negligently.

4. This work is to be done out of love to Jesus Christ, John 21.15. Lovest thou me? Feed my Lambs. Now our love to Christ must not be a cold and weak love, but such a love as must engage all our hearts and strengths in his service: Deut. 6.5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

5. Consider how diligent Satan and wicked men are to do evil, and to draw others to sin. Some wicked men are so eager of doing mischief, that they cannot sleep in the night, if they have done no mis­chief in the day time: Prov. 4.16. They sleep not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall. Solomon descri­beth the great diligence of Harlots to corrupt young men, Prov. 7.12, 13, 15, 21. Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner, so she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,—Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee, &c. With much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. Satan is no less active and diligent than his Instruments to tempt to sin, and destroy mens Souls, 1 Pet. 5.8. And shall not this provoke us to use all diligence to do good, and to save their Souls that are under our charge?

6. After there is some good work wrought in their hearts, they will be in danger of falling into an hardned frame of Spirit, if we do not with great diligence instruct and exhort them to shun that which is evil, and to follow after holiness. Heb. 3.12, 13. Take heed Brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God: but exhort one another daily, whilst it is called to day, lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin.

SECT. 17. Seven Arguments to perswade us to teach and watch over every Member of our-Family.

Direct. 17 LEt your care and diligence in teach­ing and watching over your Fami­lies be extended to every person in the Family, the meanest and most simple, as well as the more know­ing persons. As Ministers, so also Masters of Fami­lies, must take heed to all their Flock, and not only to the principal Members thereof: Acts 20.28. Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the Flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood.

To provoke you to be careful of every Member of your Family, even of the meanest Servant and Apprentice, as well as of your Children, and to seek after the Conversion, Edification, and Salva­tion of every one that the Lord hath committed to your Charge and Care: Consider,

1. The Example of Christ; He was careful not to lose one of those Souls that were committed to him by his Father: John 17.12. While I was with them in the World, I kept them in thy Name: Those that thou gavest me, I have kept; and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition. It is true, Judas the Son of Perdition was lost, but not through the want of Christs care, for Judas was instructed as well as the rest, but through his own wicked and perverse spirit.

2. The neglecting of any one person in the Fa­mily, may trouble and pollute the whole Family, and prove a very great hindrance to the good of the [Page 171]Family, Eccles. 9.18. One sinner destroyeth much good. Heb. 12.15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the Grace of God, lest any Root of bitterness springing up, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

3. The Soul of the meanest Servant is of more va­lue than the whole world: Mar. 8, 36. and there­fore ought to be minded and regarded above all worldly things.

4. God is so careful of that which we commit to his keeping, that he will lose or neglect nothing that we commit to him. After we have committed our selves to God, he doth not only look after our persons, but after every hair of our heads: Matth. 10.30. The very hairs of your head are all numbred: Luc. 21.17, 18. Ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake, but there shall not a hair of your head perish. And shall we neglect any of those immortal Souls which the Lord hath committed to our keeping, when God is so careful of us, as to look after every hair of our heads?

5. The poorest and meanest persons in the Fa­mily, that have the lowest employment and weakest parts, may belong to the Election of Grace as well as those that are of a higher degree; 1 Co. 1.27, 28. God hath chosen the foolish 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. And shall we think much to spend a little time and care for the saving of their Souls whom the great God hath made Objects of his Love and Care from all Eternity? We find that God looks after simple as well as wise men; Psal. 116.6. The Lord preserveth the simple—And shall we think much to look after those of whom the Lord himself taketh care?

6. It is the will of God that means should be used for the saving of every mans Soul; that the least as well as the greatest, the young as well as the old, should be brought to repentance, that so they may obtain salvation by Jesus Christ: Matth. 18.14. It is not the will of your Father which is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish: 2 Pet. 3.9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, (as some men count slackness) but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repen­tance.

7. If any man have an hundred sheep, and but one of them go astray, he doth not say, I have nine­ty and nine remaining with me, I will not trouble my self to seek up that one sheep that is gone from me; but he looks up his lost sheep, though it be but one, till he find it: Luk. 15.4. What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the Wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it. One man is of more value than all the sheep in the World, Matth. 12.12. How much then is a man better than a sheep? Suppose a man hath in his Family an hundred persons, and ninety and nine of them should be god­ly, and but one should go astray, he should not rest satisfied that he hath ninety and nine in his Family truly gracious, so as to neglect that person that go­eth astray, but should use all diligence for the converting and saving of that one Soul that as yet remains in a sinful perishing Condition. And what I have said of extending your Care and Diligence unto every Member of your Fami­lies, is to be understood as well of those that sojourn with you for a shorter Time, as of those that do dwell constantly with you, For [Page 173]as Moses said, in another case, Numbers 15.16. One Law and one Manner shall be for you, and for the Stranger that sojourneth with you. The like may I say here, You should take one and the same care as well for them that sojourn with you, whilst they are with you, as for those that are constantly with you. It may be the Lord sent them under your Roof for a season, that you might instil those things into them that may do them good for ever.

SECT. 18. Our Families must be kept from strife, and preser­ved in Love and Peace. The way how this may be done.

Direct. 18 CArry your selves peaceably, and en­deavour to preserve all the Mem­bers of your Family in Love and Peace amongst themselves, otherwise the Instructions that you give them will do them little good. Solomon (who was the wisest of men) tells us, Prov. 11.29. He that troubleth his own House shall inherit the Wind: That is, First, All his Labours and Endea­vours will be fruitless, and come to nothing: Wind is taken oft times for that which is unpro­fitable and fruitless: as, Job 15.2, 3. Eccles. 6.16. Isa. 26.18. Secondly, He shall inherit the Wind; that is, he shall have an unruly disor­dered Family: such as he shall not be any way able to govern, or to keep in any good order: Who can rule or keep in order the Wind? John 3.8. The Wind bloweth where it listeth: [Page 174]Where there is strife and contention, there is con­fusion; and instead of good, all manner of evil; Jam. 4.16. Where envying and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work. The Lord hath promised to give his blessing, not to such as live at variance, but to those that live in love and peace: Psal. 133, 1, 3. Be­hold how good and pleasant it is for Brethren to live toge­ther in unity! — For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. The God of Love will dwell with those that live in love and peace; 2 Cor. 13.11. Be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you: 1 John 4.16. God is Love, and he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. But such as live in wrath and strife, give place to and suffer the Devil to dwell in their hearts, Ephes. 4.26, 27. Let not the Sun go down upon your wrath, neither give place to the Devil.

If you ask, What should we do to prevent discord and contention, and to preserve love and peace in our Families?

I answer:

1. Instruct them out of the word of God what a great evil it is to live in strife and variance, that so they may fear this as well as other sins. Hatred, Variance, Emulations, Wrath, Strife, are accounted amongst the works of the Flesh, and do as certainly exclude men from the Kingdom of Heaven, as Mur­der, Adultery, Idolatry, or any other sins, Gal. 5.19, 20, 21. To sow discord among Brethren, is reckoned up amongst those six things which the Lord hateth, and the seven things which are an abomination to him; Prov. 6.16, 19. Discord and strife are con­trary to Gods Nature, who is a God of Love and [Page 175]Peace, and contrary to the Doctrine of the Go­spel, Rom. 16.17.

2. Advise them to take heed of the occasions and beginnings of strife; and therefore when they feel any motions to strife or wrath, arising in their hearts, let them stifle those motions, before they break out into action; for wrath and strife are more easily kept down, than appeased after they are stirred up: Prov. 17.14. The beginnings of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention before it be medled with: Prov. 18.19. A Brother offended is harder to be won than a strong City, and their Contentions are like the bars of a Castle.

3. Counsel them to be of an humble lowly spirit, to think and esteem better of others than them­selves. This will prevent their contending one with another: Prov. 13.10. Only by pride cometh contention. Prov. 28.25. He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: Phil. 2.3. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory: How shall we attain to this, to do nothing through strife? The following words will resolve you; But in lowliness of mind let each esteem other bet­ter than themselves.

4. Exhort them to abstain from all provoking speeches, Prov. 15.1. Grievous words stir up anger; and from all provoking carriages one towards ano­ther, as scorning each other: Prov. 22.10. Cast out the scorner; and contention shall go out, yea strife and re­proach shall cease. A froward carriage that also kind­leth strife. Prov. 15.18. A wrathful man stirreth up strife, but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. Tale­bearing is another evil that occasions much dis­cord and contention: Prov. 26.20. Where no need is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no Tale­bearer, the strife ceaseth. Those persons that do not [Page 176]learn to bridle their tongues, they will set the Fami­milies where they live at variance among them­selves, and also with other Families, and not Fami­lies only, but kingdoms also; Jam. 3.6. The tongue is a fire. — A world of iniquity —and setteth on fire the course of Nature.

5. Teach them to bear one with another, let the stronger bear with the weak; and when any ones passion is stirred, let the other seek to appease it by mild speeches and gentle carriage. It is not good to answer passion with passion, that will blow up the fire to a greater flame. But if either the Husband or Wife be angry, or one Servant be angry with his fellow-Servant, the way to asswage anger is to speak in a mild gentle manner to the person that is provo­ked; Prov. 15.1. A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger: Prov. 25.15. By long forbearing, a Prince is perswaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

6. Admonish them to be of a self-denying yield­ing spirit, and not to be stiff, and self-willed, Eccl. 10.4. Yielding pacifieth great offences: By this means Abraham prevented the strife that was like to have been between him and Lot, by receding from his own Right, and yielding to Lot, who was the youn­ger, to make his choice which way be would go with his Flocks and Herds, Gen. 13.8, 9, 10.

7. When any strife or contention doth arise, take up the difference that is between one party and ano­ther, and endeavour to reconcile each to other, and judge with equity and impartiality between him that doth, and him that suffereth the wrong. Thus Mo­ses, when he saw two Israelites striving together, en­deavoured to bring them to an agreement, Acts 7.26. This is a blessed work to make peace, and there­fore [Page 177]though it be attended with some difficulties, we should endeavour, as much as in us lieth, to make peace between such as are at variance one with ano­ther, Matth. 5.9. Blessed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be called the Children of God.

SECT. 19. The necessity of joyning Prayer with Family-Instruction: The Case of such as have prayed long for their Chil­drens Conversion, and see no answer of their prayers, considered.

Direct. 19 IF you would carry on the work of Fa­mily-Instruction successfully, so as to convert, edifie, and save their Souls which are un­der your Charge, you must pray with, and pray for your Families: you must pray often, and ear­nestly to God in the Name of Jesus Christ, for guidance, assistance, and success, in the management of this work. When the Apostles gave themselves to prayer, and the ministry of the Word, great multitudes were converted to the Faith, Act. 6.4, 7. We will give our selves continually to prayer, and to the Ministry of the Word: And what followed hereup­on? 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.

To stir you up to give your selves unto prayer for assistance and success in this work: Consi­der,

1. All your sufficiency for the right performing of this work, is of God: 2 Cor. 2.16. Who is suffi­cient for these things? 2 Cor. 3.5. Not that we are suf­ficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves, but our sufficiency is of God. And as our sufficiency for [Page 178]this work, so our success in it is from God, 1 Cor. 3.6. I have planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the in­crease. Paul was an able Minister of the New Testa­ment, 2 Cor. 3.6. and Apollo was an eloquent man mighty in the Scriptures, Act. 18.24. yet neither Paul's Abilities, nor Apollo's Eloquence could con­vert or edifie any, but where God gave a blessing to their Labours.

2. Consider how the Servants of Christ who have been Teachers of others, have longed and laboured with God in prayer night and day, for the conversi­on, edification and salvation of those that have been committed to their Care and Charge: Phil. 1.8. God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. The Apostle had a longing desire af­ter the sanctification and salvation of the Philip­pians; He did not only long, but longed greatly, not after some, or most of them, but after them all, and that in the bowels of Christ; that is, with such earnest and ardent desires as Jesus Christ hath towards the conversion of Sinners, and their eternal salvation; or, In the Bowels of Christ Jesus, may signifie those bowels, that tender and ardent affection which Jesus Christ had implanted in his soul: And what was it that the Apostle did thus long for on their behalf? It was, that their love might abound more and more, in knowledge, and in all judgment, that they might approve the things that are excellent, that they might be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ, that they might be filled with the fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God, ver. 9.10, 11. How earnestly did the Apostle thirst after the conversion of the Ga­latians, Gal. 4.9. My little Children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you: As it is with a travailing woman, she is full of sorrow and [Page 179]heaviness, and cries out, and is pained, till she be de­livered: John 16.21. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow: Rev. 12.2. She being with Child cried, travelling in Birth, and pained to be deli­vered. So it was with the Apostle, he wept, he cried out, he was pained, he could not be at ease untill Christ was formed in their hearts. This is a good pattern for Parents to follow, as soon as God hath given them Children, they should travel in birth again, till Christ be for­med in their Childrens hearts. The Apostle was so affectionately desirous of the Thessalonians welfare, that he could have imparted his own Soul to them: 1 Thes. 2.7, 8. We were gentle among you, even as a Nurse cherisheth her Children, so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only, but also our own Souls, because ye were dear unto us. And as the Apostle did earnestly long after their wel­fare whom he instructed, so he prayed exceedingly for them night and day; 1 Thes. 3.10. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and per­fect that which is lacking in your Faith: Phil. 1.4. Al­ways in every prayer of mine making request for you all with Joy: He put up no prayer at any time, but he remembred them all; and it was not irksome to him so to do, but he did it with Joy.

And as the Apostle Paul, so also others of the Servants of Christ have been wont to labour and strive mightily with God in Prayer for those whom they have taught and instructed in the ways of God, Col. 4.12. Epaphras, who is one of you, a Servant of Christ, saluteth you, always la­bouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and compleat in the whole Will of God. [Page 180]He did not only pray, but laboured in prayer, and that fervently, not sometimes, but always; and that not for his own concernments, but for you: besides, it is not said in prayer, but in prayers; intimating that he put up a multitude of prayers for them; and it was no small measure of grace that he laboured thus earnestly for on their behalf, but that they might stand perfect and compleat in the will, in all the will of God.

3. Prayer will do great things with God for others, as well as our own Souls; Jam. 5.16. Pray one for another that ye may be healed; the effectual fer­vent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. By praying in faith, and with fervency, we may obtain converting grace, remission of sins, and eternal life, for our Children and Servants, and others, as well as those of our own Families, 1 John 5.16. If any man see his Brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. This promise may give us great en­couragement to pray in faith for the conversion and salvation of such as are visible and open sinners. If any see his Brother sin, &c. If we consider,

1. The persons to whom this promise is made, and they are every one that believeth in the Name of Jesus Christ: It is not a priviledge that did be­long only to the Apostles, or extraordinary men of God; but it is said, If any man—that is, any man that believeth in Christ, as appeareth from the thir­teenth verse.

2. The persons for whom Believers may obtain Life and Salvation upon praving to God for them, and they are his Brethren, sinning Brethren, If any man see his Brother sin,—he shall give him life for them— He first speaks of a Brother in the singular number, [Page 181]and then saith, Life for them, in the plural, which shews that the word Brother is to be taken collective­ly (as Beza observes) for all or any Brother for whom a Believer shall pray to God. If you ask, Who is meant by a Brother? I answer: The Apo­stle seemeth to use the word Brother in this Epistle in the same latitude with Neighbour, which may be proved from several passages in his Epistle, as Chap. iii. 14, 15, 16. Chap. iv. 20.21. And Pisca­tor expounds the word Brother, Fratris nomine intel­ligit proximum, qui eandem nobiscum fidem ac proinde eundem in coelis patrem profitetur.

3. He excepts no sins but the sin unto death; that is, as most expound the place, the sin against the Holy Gaost, which is a sin that shall never have for­giveness: As for any other sins, if Believers ask of God Repentance and Forgiveness of sins for them that have sinned, that so they may have Life and Sal­vation, God will grant them their desire.

Another Scripture that sheweth the efficacy of prayer, in order to the obtaining for others forgive­ness of sins, and Grace whereby they may be quali­fied to receive forgiveness of sins, we have Jam. 5.15. The prayer of faith shall save the Sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him. Ishmael was a wild Child, Gen. 16.11, 12. yet when Abraham prayed, Gen. 17.10. O that Ishmael might live before thee! God an­swers him, verse 20. As for Ishmael I have heard thee: And though the Lord adds afterward, But my Cove­nant will I establish with Isaac; Yet this, as Rivet observes, seems rather to be an excluding of Ish­mael's Posterity, than his Person, from the Cove­nant; unto whom, the same day that God gave him this answer, Abraham administers Circumcision, the [Page 182]Seal of the Covenant. When the woman of Cana­ans Daughter was grievously vexed with a Devil, her prayer prevailed with Christ to deliver her Daughter from the power of the Devil, Matth. 15.22, 28.

Objection.

I have prayed often to God to give my Children Grace, and to convert and turn them from their sins; but I do not see that my Prayers avail any thing with God for my Children, they abide still in a graceless condi­tion.

Answer.

1. Do you instruct them diligently, as well as pray for them? Do you watch over them? Do you shew them a good example? Do you reprove them? Do you give them due correction? If you do not use other means as well as prayer, possibly that is the reason why your prayers avail not for their conver­sion. The Apostle Paul who earnestly desired and prayed for the salvation of the Jews, Rom. 10.1. Bre­thren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved; joyned with his prayers the use of all means to effect their salvation; Rom. 11.14. If by any means I might provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. So must we joyn the use of all other means with prayer, if we would have our prayers become effectual for the conversion and salvation of our Children.

2. Though we see no present return of our pray­ers, yet we should continue praying, and not faint or be discouraged, until we have obtained what we pray for: Luke 18.1. He spake a Parable unto them, to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Though the Lord may be silent for a season, and seem not to regard our Prayers, to try our Faith [Page 183]and Patience, yet he may purpose to give us all that we pray for. He dealt thus with the Woman of Canaan, when she came to him with a Request on the behalf of her Daughter; at the first he answer­ed her not a word, Matth. 15.23. And when the Dis­ciples intercede for her, he seems to discourage them from making any farther request for her, by saying to them, ver. 24. I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the House of Israel; and afterward, when she conti­nued to cry after him, he seemeth to beat her off, and reject her prayer, by telling her, Verse 26. It is not meet to take the Childrens Bread, and cast it to Dogs: Yet she still holding on her suit, at length Christ yields her the whole desire of her heart, Verse 28. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O Woman, great is thy Faith; Be it un­to thee even as thou wilt: And her Daughter was made whole from that very hour.

3. If God should not answer our Prayers for our Children whilst we live, yet he may an­swer those Prayers after we are dead, which we did offer up to him whilst we lived with them. Our Lord JESUS CHRIST pray­ed for the Jews, that were so vile and wicked as to put him to death, Luke 23.34. Then said Jesus, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. And as an answer of Christs Prayer, thousands of those Jews that were not wrought upon either by Christs Doctrine, or Miracles, or Godly Life, but continued in an impenitent condition till after his death; yea, were so hardened as to have an hand in the crucifying of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Life and Glory, were notwithstanding converted by the preaching of the Apostle Peter, Acts 2, 23.37, 41. [Page 184]Suppose neither your Instructions, nor godly Exam­ple, nor Prayers should prevail for the conversion of your Children whilst you live, but they should be vile, and stubborn, and disobedient to God and to you, unto your dying day; yet cease not praying for them: It may be the Lord will answer your prayers by making use of others to convert them, when you are laid in your Graves.

4. We should sin against God, if we should cease praying for our Children, because we see no effect of our Prayers, but do behold much stubborness and perversness in them. The people of Israel were a perverse people, Samuel saw little fruit of his In­structions or Prayers on their behalf, they were set upon their own way, and he could not disswade them from desiring a change of Government, al­though therein they did not only reject Samuel, but God himself, from raigning over them, 1 Sam. 8.5, 6, 7, 8. yet he would not cease from praying for them, lest he should sin against the Lord, 1 Sam. 12.23. Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord, in ceasing to pray for you. If Samuel was afraid to cease praying for a stubborn perverse peo­ple, lest he should sin against the Lord, ought not Parents to continue praying for their graceless and disobedient Children, for fear if they should cease to pray for them, they also should sin against the Lord?

5. If you have prayed for your Childrens Con­version, and cannot prevail, joyn fasting with pray­er: Sometimes mercies cannot be obtained from God, unless we fast as well as pray, Mark 9.29. This kind can come forth by nothing but by Prayer and Fasting. If we have a Child that is sick un­to death, we do not stick at seeking God by [Page 185]Fasting and Prayer for its Recovery: 2 Sam. 12.15, 16. The Lord struck the Child that Ʋriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick; David therefore besought God for the Child, and David fasted.— And shall we not much more seek to God by fasting and prayer, to recover our Chil­dren and Servants from the power of sin and Sa­tan, and to deliver them from everlasting Burn­ings? This duty of Fasting, rightly performed, is of great use, both for the obtaining direction from God in the management of our undertakings, Ezra 8.21, 23. I proclaimed a Fast—that we might afflict our selves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for our substance, so we fasted, and besought our God for this, and he was intreated of us. And also for procuring of success in what we take in hand, as we may see in the case of Esther, Nehemiah, and several others, who setting upon their undertakings with fasting and prayer, prosperously effected what they took in hand, though their work was very great, and attended with very great difficulties. God seldom lets any Fast, that is performed in a right manner, go with­out a remarkable Reward, Matth. 6.17, 18. And therefore it will be very much for our own and our Families advantage, to set apart some days of humi­liation, with our Families, to seek God by fasting and prayer to bless and succeed us in this Work of Family-Instruction.

SECT. 20. The usefulness of Faith in reference to Family-Instru­ction. Several sorts of Promises relating to our Families. The Case of such as are discouraged from acting Faith upon the Promises, because they see no Fruit of their Faith or Labours.

Direct. 20 ACT your Faith upon God for the Conversion and Salvation of such as are under your charge. Trust in him by vertue of his Promises to bless and prosper your Labours in teaching your Families. We read of Isaac that he blessed his Children in faith, Heb. 11.20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. As Isaac blessed his Children in faith, so should we instruct our Children in faith, believing that God will bless our Instructions for the doing their souls good. To do our work in faith, believing in God, and resting upon God for his blessing, is the way to prosper in what we do; 2 Chron. 20.20. Believe in the Lord your God, so shall you be established; believe his Prophets, so shall ye prosper. By believing in the Lord, we may obtain salvation for our Houshold, as well as for our own Souls, Acts 16.31. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy House: Which is not to be understood as though the Governours faith would avail for the salvation of such of his House as live and die in an unregene­rate condition; but that upon his believing, and using of the means of Grace in faith, he shall obtain conversion, and so consequently salvation, for his Houshold.

Wherefore seeing Faith is of such prevalen­cie with God, as to obtain converting Grace [Page 187]and Salvation for our Families, I shall put you in mind of several sorts of Promises which may encourage and help you to trust in God for Fa­mily-Mercies and Family-Blessings; and that not only Temporal, but Spiritual and Eternal Bles­sings: As for instance:

• 1. God hath promised not only to be a God to his People, but also the God of their Fami­lies; Jer. 31.1. At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the Families of Israel, and they shall be my People.
• 2. The Lord hath promised to bless the seve­ral Members of his Peoples Families, as the Wife, the Children, the Servants. He hath promised to bless the Wife, and to make her as a fruitful Vine; Psal. 128.1, 2, 3. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways; for thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands, happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee: Thy Wife shall be as a fruitful Vine by the sides of thine House.—

Now that we may understand what is couched under this phrase, Thy Wife shall be as a fruitful Vine: Let us consider what the Scripture saith of the Vine in other places:

The Vine brings forth Wine, which cheareth God and men, Judg. 9.13.

It casteth forth a pleasant delightful smell, Cant. 2.13.

To dwell under a Vine, implies safety and confi­dence, 1 King 4.25. Also a dwelling in peace, with­out Wars, Jars, and Contentions, Mich. 4.34.

The Vine hath no prickles on it, or any thing that may hurt a man, and is opposed to the pricking Briar and grieving Thorn, Ezek. 28.24, 26.

The Vine is fruitful, which is that which the Psal­mist mentions, She shall be as a fruitful Vine; and further he adds, By the sides of thine House; To shew that she shall resemble the noblest and choicest Vine. Men do not use to plant wild Vines by the sides of their Houses, such as bring forth sowr Grapes, but the best and choicest Vines that they can get, such as yield sweet and pleasant fruit.

The Lord hath promised also to bless our Chil­dren with his Grace and good Spirit. He hath pro­mised to be a God to our Seed, Gen. 17.7. I will esta­blish my Covenant between me and thee, and thy Seed af­ter thee, in their Generations, for an everlasting Cove­nant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy Seed after thee: And to give them his holy Spirit, Isa. 44.3. I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed, and my Blessing upon thine Off-spring. He hath promised to circumcise their hearts to love him in sincerity and truth: Deut. 30.6. The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy Seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and all thy Soul, that thou mayest live. He hath promised that our Children shall be like Olive plants, Psal. 128.3, Thy Children like Olive Plants round about thy Table: By which we may understand (as Mollerus observes upon this Text) that Children shall be Comforts and Ornaments to their Parents; (for Oil is used to signifie joy and gladness, Psal. 45.7. and was used by the Jews by way of Ornament and Beauty, Psal. 104.15. Luke 7.46.) And also that they shall be furnished with the Gifts and Graces of Gods Spirit, (which are compared to Ovl, Matth. 25.3, 4, 8.) And that they shall be useful Instruments to do service for God in [...]heir Generation, either in the Church or State, [Page 189]( Zach. 4.12, 13, 14.) And be of a quiet, peaceable disposition; for the Olive is used as an Emblem of Peace, Gen. 8.11. And that they shall be of an hea­venly disposition, resembling the holy Cherubims. (When Solomon made Cherubims within the Oracle, he made them of the Olive-Tree, 1 King. 6.23.) Lastly, By this Metaphor may be signified their con­stant progress and perseverance in Grace and Holi­ness all their days; (the Olive continuing full of green Leaves all the year long, Psal. 52.8.) The Lord hath promised also to give his Grace and good Spirit unto our Servants, Joel 2.28, 29. I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh,— and also upon the Servants, and upon the Handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.

3. God hath promised to bless his Peoples Fami­lies with peace, and to prevent Jars and Discords, which are a great hindrance to the good of a Family, and that he will help them to govern their Families in a holy manner, Job 5.24. Thou shalt know that thy Tabernacle shall be in peace, and thou shalt visit thy Ha­bitation and shalt not sin.

4. God hath promised to give his People flourish­ing Families, by which we are not only or chiefly to understand their flourishing in respect of outward prosperity, but rather their flourishing in respect of the abundance of heavenly and spiritual Blessings, wherewith the Lord will bless them: Prov. 14.11. The House of the Wicked shall be overthrown, but the Tabernacle of the Ʋpright shall flourish.

5. The Lord hath promised to bless his People in every work of their hands, and to prosper them therein, and so consequently in this work of Family-Instruction: Deut. 15.20. The Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine [Page 190]hand unto. Isa. 65.22, 23. Mine Elect shall long en­joy the work of their hands: They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the Seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their Off-spring with them.

Thus we see there are variety of Promises for us to act our faith upon, in reference to our Families.

But it may be some will be ready to say, I see all things in my Family running cross to these Promises; My Children are not Olive-Plants, but ra­ther like Bryars and Thorns: I can see no fruit of my Labours either upon my Children or Servants: In­stead of knowing that my Tabernacle shall be in peace, I find Jars and Discords arising daily; Instead of flou­rishing, I find withering and decaying; I find luke-warm­ness and deadness growing upon my Family, and therefore I finding all things running contrary to these Promises, I know not how to rest upon God for blessing, converting, sanctifying, and saving of the Members of my Family.

1. If you find God with-holding Family blessings, and that he doth not accomplish Family-promises, enquire into the cause why God deals thus with you; and to that end let me put to you these following Queries:

• 1. Do you not harbour some unmortified sins in your hearts? Is there not some evil in the managing of your Callings, or in your Conversations, which causeth God to with-hold these good things from you? Jer. 5.25. Your iniquities have turned away these things, & your sins have with-holden good things from you.
• 2. Are you careful and diligent to obey the Voice of the Lord? If not, that may be the reason why you do not enjoy these promised mercies, Zach. 6.15. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.
• [Page 191]3. Do you get up betimes that you may have op­portunity to pray with and pray for your Family, do you pray hard, and cry mightily to God for them? Do you labour to purifie your selves as God is pure? Do you walk uprightly? If you would do thus, God would soon make your Families flourish, Job 8.5, 6. If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy sup­plications unto the Almighty, if thou wert pure and up­right, surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy Righteousness prosperous.
• 4. Are you diligent in teaching your Families? Do you set your hearts, your whole hearts to this work? You ought to do it if you would prosper in it; 2 Chron. 31.21. In every work that he began in the service of the House of God, and in the Law, and in the Commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
• 5. Are you not deficient in the duty of Medita­tion? If so, possibly that may be the reason why God blasts your Labours, for the promise of suc­cess is made to such as meditate on Gods word, Josh. 1.8. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is writ­ten therein, for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
• 6. Do you apply these promises to your selves, and believe in God, that he will give you the good things that are wrapped up in these promises? If not it is your unbelief that hinders your reaping the be­nefit of these Promises: For if you did believe them, they should be performed in due season: Luk. 1.45. Blessed is she that believeth, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
• [Page 192]7. Are you not in a backslidden condition? And is not your forsaking of God, the cause why God forsakes you, and gives no blessing to your Labours? 2 Chron. 24.20. Thus saith the Lord, Why transgress ye the Commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? Because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsa­ken you.

Secondly, Though you do not see the promises which relate to your Families accomplished, but all things seem rather to run contrary to them, yet you must not give over hoping in them, and waiting for them. After God had promised Abraham a nume­rous Seed, it was twenty five years before Isaac was born; for he was but seventy five years old when he departed out of Charan, which was the time God promised to make of him a great Nation, Gen. 12.2, 3, 4. And Abraham was an hundred years old when his Son Isaac was born unto him, Gen. 21.5. It was so long before this promise began to have any accomplish­ment, that if he had considered the deadness of his own Body, or the deadness of Sarah's Womb, as the Apostle speaks, Rom. 4.19. natural Reason would have told him it was a vain thing for him to hope for Children: But Abraham having a promise of God to ground his faith upon, believed in hope against hope, and did not stagger at the Promise through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, verse 18, 20. Suppose you have waited for the Promises that re­late to your Families twenty years, and see nothing of them made good, suppose you see nothing in your Children or Servants to encourage you to hope, but rather many discouragements; yet ha­ving promises to ground your Faith and Hope upon, you must imitate Abraham, who against hope belie­ved in hope that it should be according to what was [Page 193]spoken and promised by God; you must not stagger at the Promises through unbelief, but continue strong in faith, and thereby you shall give glory to God: We are oft-times admonished that we have need of Patience as well as Faith, to wait for the ac­complishment of the Promises; as we may see Heb. 10.35, 36. Cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompence of Reward: for ye have need of pati­ence, that after ye have done the will of God ye might re­ceive the promise: Heb. 6.12. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience in­herit the Promises.

Thirdly, That Promise in Hos. 14.7. They that dwell under his shadow shall return, they shall revive as the Corn, they shall grow as the Vine, the scent thereof shall be as the Wine of Lebanon, may be of great use to such godly persons as find their Families to be in a languishing condition, some unconverted, others that gave hope of a work of grace wrought in them, declined and gone backward, deadness and unprofi­tableness upon most of the Members of the Family. And therefore I shall open the promise, and shew how we should come to enjoy the blessings that are contained in it.

The Lord having promised several blessings to his people, verse 4, 5, 6. doth promise verse 7. to make them blessings to others; They that dwell under his shadow— hat is, under Israel's shadow, mentioned vers. 5. By Israel, understand all the servants of God, Isa. 44.21. To dwell under ones shadow, may signi­nifie to be in the same House or Family, as Gen. 10.8. Only unto these men do nothing, for therefore came they under the shadow of my Roof; that is, into my Family, or my House. So that this Promise, though it be of a larger extent than particular Families, may be [Page 194]safely and warrantably applied by every Israelite in­deed who hath a Family, in reference to all that dwell under his Roof.

Now let us see what is promised concerning those that dwell under a godly mans shadow:

• 1. They shall return—Returning is sometimes applied to the Repentance and Conversion of such as are in a state of sin; as Isa. 55.7. Sometimes to the returning of such as have backslidden from God after Conversion, as Jer. 3.22. Both may be under­stood here; the impenitent and unconverted shall be converted to God, and such as are backslidden since their Conversion, shall be brought back again to the Lord.
• 2. They shall revive as the Corn: They, that is, they that dwell under Israels shadow shall revive—God will take off their deadness, and give them living and lively spirits in his service: They shall revive as the Corn: How is that? The Corn lies dead under the ground for a time, before it comes up; and after it is sprung up, winter-frosts and cold winds make it hang the head, as if it would dye again; yet by the warm beams of the Sun, and the blessing of Heaven, it revives again. Are there any in your Families where the Seed of the word seemeth to lie dead, no­thing springs forth as yet, that speaketh life? Are there others where there did once appear some fruit, but it seems to be withered? Here is ground for faith to act upon for both sorts in these words, They shall revive as the Corn.
• 3. They shall grow as the Vine: Here is promised to the Members of our Families, 1. Growth in Grace: 2. Growth resembling the growing of the Vine: How is that? The cutting and pruning of the Vine makes it thrive, and grow more fruitful, [Page 195]and so it signifieth a growing under afflictions and temptations; losses and crosses shall not hinder but further their growth: Again, they shall grow as the Vine; not as Briars and Thorns; they shall not grow worse and worse, but grow in grace and good­ness. We may know what we must do to obtain these blessings for our Families mentioned in this promise, if we consider what God required of Isra­el, and what he promised to do for Israel before he gave Israel this promise, They that dwell under his shadow, &c. As,
  • 1. We must repent of all our sins, and return to the Lord; this God requireth from Israel, vers. 1. O Israel, return to the Lord thy God: When we our selves return to God, God promiseth to bless us with reformed Families, Job 22.23.
  • 2. We must pray earnestly to God to be gracious to us and our Families, and to take away all iniquity from us, this also is required of Israel, vers. 2. God expects that his Promises should be sued out with prayer before he perform them, Ezek. 36.37.
  • 3. We must renounce all self-confidence, and ac­knowledge our inability to do good either to our selves or Families, vers. 3.
  • 4. If we have been under any backslidings, we must get them healed, vers. 4.
  • 5. We must labour to grow in grace our selves, and to be of savoury spirits, to express the beauty of holiness in our Conversations, if we would have our Families grow in grace: For before God promiseth that such as dwell under Israel's shadow should grow as the Vine, he promiseth, vers. 5, 6. to be as the dew unto Israel, whereby he should grow as the Lily, and that his smell should be as Lebanon, and his beau­ty as the Olive-Tree.

SECT. 21. A godly Life and good Example maketh Family-Instru­ction powerful and successful.

Direct. 21 IF you would carry on the work of Fa­mily—Instruction successfully, walk examplarily in your Families: Be Patterns and Ex­amples to them in Faith, in Holiness, in Meekness, in Charity, in good Discourse, in Self-denial, in Pa­tience, in Heavenly-mindedness, and in every other good work, that your Families may know how to walk so as to please and glorifie God, by seeing and observing how you carry your selves in all things. They that teach others should labour to carry them­selves exemplarily in all things towards those whom they instruct: 1 Tim. 4.12. Be thou an example of the Believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity: Tit. 2.7. In all things shewing thy self a Pattern of good works.— Instruction from a good man is embraced more readily, and worketh more powerfully than that which comes from one that walketh contrary to what he teacheth. Barna­bas being a good man was instrumental by his exhor­tations to convert many to the Lord, Acts 11.23, 24. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the holy Ghost, and of Faith, and much People was added to the Lord. When Levi, who taught the people, walked with God, he turned many from iniquity, Mal. 2.6. The Law of Truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: He walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity: A good conversation is such a powerful means to convert Souls, that some who are not [Page 197]wrought upon by the Word, are won to Christ by a good conversation; 1 Pet. 3.1. Wives be in subjection to your own Husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the Wives. When Governours of Families return to God, and walk with God, the Lord hath promi­sed that their families shall be reformed also and put away iniquity, Job 22.23. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up; thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy Tabernacles: This latter clause implies two things, 1. That it is our duty when we return to God, to endeavour to reform our Families. 2. That when we do return to God, and endeavour to reform our Families, God will so bless our endea­vours, that iniquity shall be put far from our Taber­nacles. And accordingly we find that when the Master of the Family feareth God, and doth accor­ding to his duty labour to bring his Family to fear and serve the Lord, the Lord hath blessed the whole Family with the fear of his Name; as we may see in Cornelius, who fearing God, and being a devout man, all his house feared God also, Acts 10.1, 2. And when Crispus the chief Ruler believed, all his house believed also in the Lord, Acts 18.8. Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed on the Lord with all his House.

SECT. 22. Family-Instruction must be continued as long as we live.

Direct. 22 COntinue constant and diligent in this work of Family-Instruction as long as you live, notwithstanding all the discouragements that you meet with therein. The Lord doth not on­ly require of us that we should teach our Children his holy Word, but he commands us also to continue [Page 198]so doing as long as we live, Deut. 4.9. 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 thy heart all the days of thy life, but teach them thy sons, and thy sons sons. So also vers. 10. Ga­ther me 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. To move you to constancy herein, consider,

1. That continuance in this work will be a means to promote your own and your Families salvation: 1 Tim. 4.16. Take heed unto thy self, and unto thy Do­ctrine; continue in them: for in doing this, thou shalt save thy self, and them that hear thee: Isa. 64.5. In those is continuance, and we shall be saved: That is, by con­tinuing to work Righteousness, and to walk in Gods ways, (spoken of in the fore-going words) we shall be saved. It is not enough to do well, but we must continue with patience in well doing under all our discouragements, if we would have eternal life, Rom. 2.6, 7. Who will render to every man according to his deeds; to them who by patient continuance in well do­ing seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal Life.

2. Consider how earnestly God calls upon you not to be discouraged in the doing of any good work; but to be stedfast and unmovable, and to a­bound always in the work of the Lord, Gal. 6.9. Let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not: 1 Cor. 15.58. My beloved Brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord: forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

3. Consider how the Lord commends constancy [Page 199]in that which is good, Gal. 4.18. It is good to be zea­lously affected always in a good thing.—And what a great sin it is to neglect doing good works, Jam. 4.17. To him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin. To leave off doing good works, is the way to run into all evil; Psal. 36.3, 4. He hath left off to be wise, and to do good; he deviseth mischief upon his Bed, he setteth himself in a way that is not good. To leave off doing good works, will provoke God to send some heavy Judgment upon us, Hos. 8.3. Israel hath cast off the thing that is good, the Enemy shall pursue him.

SECT. 1. The Plea of such as neglect Family-Instruction, be­cause they say they are not able to instruct their Fa­milies, answered.

Object. 1 I Would instruct my Family in the knowledge of the 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 [Page 201]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.
• [Page 202]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 [Page 203]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 [Page 204]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 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 [Page 205]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. Ʋnto every one [Page 206]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 [Page 208]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 [Page 209]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, [Page 210]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 [Page 211]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 [Page 212]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. [Page 213] 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 [Page 214]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 [Page 215]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 [Page 216]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 [Page 217]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 [Page 218]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 [Page 220]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 [Page 221]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 [Page 222]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 'tis 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 [Page 225]he spake of his Death and Resurrection, as we may see Luc. 18.31, 32, 33, 34. Now if Nicodemus a Ma­ster in Israel, was ignorant of the nature of Regene­ration, which is a work that must pass upon every one that shall be saved; if the Disciples of Christ, yea his Apostles, after they had been a long time with him, were ignorant of those plain and funda­mental Truths of the Death and Resurrection of Christ; had not those Masters of Families that think all in their Families are endued with such a great measure of knowledge that they want no instructi­on, need make enquiry into their Children and Ser­vants knowledge, whether they are indeed so know­ing as they think them to be?

Thirdly, Suppose all the Members of your Fa­milies be wise understanding persons, endued with a great measure of knowledge, yet it is your duty to instruct them, that they may get more wisdom, and it will be a benefit and advantage unto them to be instructed, Prov. 9.9. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning: For,

• 1. Though you should teach them nothing but what they knew before, yet thereby you may edi­fie them, whilst you stir up their Faith, Hope, Love, Joy, Thankfulness, and Obedience, &c. by putting them in remembrance of known Truths. They to whom the Apostle Peter wrote, knew and were esta­blished in the Truth; yet he resolved as long as he lived to stir them up by putting them in remem­brance of what he had taught them before, 2 Pet. 1.12, 13. I will not be negligent to put you always in re­membrance of those things though ye know them, and be established in the present truth; yea, I think it meet as [Page 226]long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance: But,
• 2. There is no man knows so much, but he may and ought to labour to grow in knowledge. David knew more than the Antients, and more than all his Teachers, and yet how often do we find him praying after this manner, Give me understanding, Teach me thy Statutes, &c. In the 119 Psalm, where he speaks of the great measure of knowledge whereby he ex­celled his Enemies, his Teachers, and the Antients, he prays 24 or 25 times to God, to give him know­ledge. You should not rest satisfied that your Fa­milies do know the will of God, but you should de­sire and endeavour as the Apostle did in the behalf of the Colossians, that they may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, Col. 1.9, 10. You should not only la­bour to bring them acquainted with the word of God, but endeavour that it may dwell richly in them, and that it may dwell in them in all wisdom, Col. 3.16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom.—

SECT. 8. Family-Instruction must not be neglected, because we have but a small Family.

Object. 8 SOme perhaps may object, My Family is so small, I do not think it worth my time and pains to instruct them: If I had many Children, or many Servants, I would take pains to instruct them; but having so small a Family, I do not think it worth the while to bestow my time on one or two, because I can im­ploy my time better.

Answ. 1. If you have but one Child, or one Ser­vant to instruct, it is worth much time and pains to instruct that one person, for one Soul is more worth than the whole world, Mark 8.36. Now you have spent and do spend much time and pains to get a lit­tle of the world; and will you then grudge the spending a little time or pains to save a Soul, which is more worth than the whole world, when as you willingly spend much time to gain a little of the world.

2. To instruct persons in the knowledge of Christ, is such a great and glorious work, that the holy An­gels did not think much to go to a few Shepherds to acquaint them with the time and place of Christs birth; Luc. 2.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. And when one Angel was publishing this message to the Shepherds, there sud­denly descended a multitude of the heavenly Host, as being desirous to do the same work, vers. 13, 14. And shall any of us think much to do that which the Angels of Heaven do, and rejoyce to be im­ployed in?

3. The Lord Jesus spent much time and pains in teaching and instructing one poor woman, the wo­man of Samarla, who was a sinner, and a woman of a churlish disposition, that in an upbraiding manner denied him a Cup of Water, notwithstanding the Well was deep, and she saw that he had nothing to draw withal; and this he did at such a time as he had been wearied with his journey, and was both hungry and thirsty, John 4.6. to 28. Now one hour of Christs time, was more worth than our whole lives; and shall we then think much to spend a little time in teaching one Child, or one Servant, whenas the Lord Jesus did not think much to spend his time [Page 282]when he was weary, hungry, and thirsty, in teaching one poor woman?

4. Though you have but one Child or Servant to instruct, if God bless your labours so as to convert that Child or Servant, that one person may be instru­mental to bring great glory to God, and to do good to many others. When the woman of Samaria was converted by Christ, she was a means of drawing a great part of the City where she lived, unto Jesus Christ; John 4.28, 29, 30. she did not only draw a great part of the City to hear him, but also was a means of their conversion, vers. 39. Many of the Sa­maritans of that City believed on him for the saying of the Woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

5. Faithfulness to God, and such as are under our charge, is shown in discharging our duty to a few, as well as to many; and he that is not faithful to a few, would not be faithful if he had many commit­ted to his charge, Luc. 16.10. He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. They that have but a few things committed to their trust, if they are faithful in them, shall have a great and glorious Reward, as well as they that have been in­trusted with much, Matth. 25.23. His Lord said un­to him, Well done good and faithful Servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee Ruler over many things; enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord.

6. Whereas you say you could spend your time better than in teaching so few as you have in your Family, you should do well to consider, That we are not to spend our time in those things which seem right in our own eyes, Deut. 12.8. Ye shall not do af­ter [Page 229]all the things that we do here this day, every man what­soever is right in his own eyes. But we are to spend our time in doing those works which God hath given us to do, and in so doing we shall glorifie God, and fol­low the Example and Pattern of our Lord and Savi­our Jesus Christ, John 17.4. I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. Now this is one work which God hath given you to do, to teach his Word to your Children, and hath commanded you to be diligent in it, Deut. 6.6, 7.

SECT. 9. The greatness of a Family is not a sufficient Plea for the neglect of Family-Instruction.

Object. 9 SOme also may say, My Family is so nu­merous, that I am not able to instruct them; if I had a lesser Family I would do it, but I know not how to carry on this work in such a great Family as I have.

Answ. 1. The more Souls you have in your Fami­ly, the more diligent you had need to be in this work of Family-Instruction, for you will have the great­er account to give to God at the day of Judgment: The accompt we must give to God at the day of Judgment, is very strict. He will call us to an ac­count for every word, yea for every idle word, Mat. 12.32. I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment. Now if we must give an account for every word, every idle word that we have spoken, shall we not much more give an account for every person whom God hath committed to our charge? Is not a man of far more value than a word?

2. If you neglect teaching your Family because of the multitude of persons that are in it, you are not like Christ, you are not of the same mind and spirit that Christ was of, for the greater the number of people was which resorted to him, the more his Bowels of Compassion were stirred up to teach them, Mark 6 34. And Jesus when he came out saw much people, and was moved with compassion towards them,—and he began to teach them many things. Neither are you like the Righteous, concerning whom Solomon saith, Prov. 10.21. The Lips of the Righteous feed many.

3. Your Family is not greater and more nume­rous than Acraham's Family was, for he was able to raise more than 300 fighting men out of the Servants born in his own house, Gen. 14.14. When Abraham heard that his Brother was taken captive, he armed his trained Servants born in his own House, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And not­withstanding Abraham had such a numerous Family, yet he taught them all to keep the ways of the Lord, Gen. 18.19. I know him, that he will command his Chil­dren and his Houshold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment. And those three hundred and eighteen Servants whom he car­ried with him to rescue Lot, mentioned Gen. 14.14. were trained (or as it is in the Margin, instructed) Servants, which may be understood of their being religiously trained up; that they were instructed in the grounds of Religion, as well as of their training to civil or military Employments, as Ainsworth and Calvin observe: Vatalbus his Note upon that Text is, Pueros quos (ut quidam volunt) instruxerat Arte Bel­licâ ac etiam Lege Divinâ: And that which will con­firm this exposition, that these trained men were [Page 231]trained up in the knowledge and fear of God, is this, The same Hebrew word which is used here for trained men, is used for Religious Education Prov. 22.6. Train up (or as it is in the Margin, catechise) a child in the way that he should go.

4. If your Family be numerous, you may render the work of instruction the more easie, by calling the whole Family together, when you instruct them, and then you may at the same time, with the same ease, instruct many as few. Israel being a nume­rous people, and they being all to be instructed, Moses counsels the Levites to gather the people to­gether, that the work might be done with the more ease, Deut. 31.11, 12. Thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing; gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy 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. Do you thus, if your Family be numerous, at certain stated times appoint your whole Family to come together, and then you may with ease instruct all of them.

SECT. 10. Great as well as mean men must instruct their Fa­milies.

Object. 10 I Am a great man, and this work is be­neath me, to teach my Children and Servants.

Answer: 1. Art thou greater than Abraham, who was a great Prince, Gen. 23.5, 6. The Children of Heth answered Abraham, saying, Hear us my Lord, thou art a mighty Prince amongst us—and who is stiled the Father of the Faithful, and a Father of many [Page 232]Nations? Yet he did not think it to be beneath him to teach his Family, Gen. 18.19. Art thou greater than David, who was King of Israel? Yet he did not think much to teach his Family; Prov. 4.3, 4. I was my Fathers Son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my Mother; He taught me also: He did not only teach Solomon, but his other Children also, Psal. 34.11. Come ye Children, hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Yea, he did not think much to teach Transgressors the ways of the Lord, Psal. 51.13. Then will I teach Transgressors thy ways.—

2. The Great GOD condescends to teach the meanest and poorest of men, Psal. 25.8. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will he teach Sinners in the way: John 6.45. It is written in the Prophets, And they shall be all taught of God: Isa. 54.13. And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord, Doth the Great GOD condescend to teach all sorts of men, the Poor as well as the Rich, Children as well as grown Men, yea such as are Sinners; and shall any man think himself too great to teach and instruct his Fa­mily?

3. It is an honour to be employed in doing any work or service for God and Jesus Christ. John the Baptist was a great man; Christ saith of him, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a grea­ter than John the Baptist, Matth. 11.11. Yet this great man did not think himself above the meanest ser­vice that he could be employed in for Christ, but thought himself unworthy to carry Christs Shoes af­ter him, Matth. 3.11. He that cometh after me is migh­tier than I, whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear. To teach the word of Christ unto our Children and Servants, is more honourable work than to carry Christs Shoes after him. Now if John the Baptist [Page 233]thought himself unworthy to carry Christs Shoes after him, what great pride of spirit is it for any man to say or think it is a work beneath 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 'tis 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 [Page 235]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 Families.

If you say, On the Lords day we must attend upon the publick Worship and Service of God, and we must take also some time for private Communion with God, so that we have no spare time on the Lords days.

I answer,

It is true, it is our duty to attend upon the Pub­lick Worship and Service of God, Jam. 1.19. Let every man be swift to hear: And in so doing, we may expect Christs presence with us, Matth. 18.20. For where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them. It is our duty also to keep up private Communion with God, to pray to God in secret, and to read and meditate on the word of God when we are alone, but both these may be done; we may attend on Gods Ordinances in pub­lick, and also perform secret and Closet-duties, and yet have time sufficient for to instruct our Families every Lords day.

5. That the plea of other business may not take you off from teaching your Families the word of God; consider how acceptable this work is to Je­sus Christ. No work or business doth more please him, than to see us learning his word our selves, and teaching our Families what we have learnt. When Christ came to Martha's House, she received him, and took great care and pains to entertain Christ, and those that came with him, and this was a very good and pious work; but Mary sat at Jesus feet, [Page 238]and heard his word. Hereupon Martha goes to Christ, and complains that Mary had left her to serve alone: But what answer did Christ give her? It was this, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled a­bout many things; but one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her, Luke 10.38, 39, 40, 41, 42. Where we see Christ commended Mary's choice, who sat at his feet, and heard his word, above Martha's, who re­ceived him into her house, and provided for his en­tertainment and his followers. And yet how good a work was it to receive and entertain Christ! There was cost, and care, and pains attending this work. And as Christ is highly pleased with such as give their minds to hear and learn his word, more than with those that were able and willing to feast him and his Apostles; So also it is a very acceptable work unto Christ, to see us instructing and teaching our Families; which doth plainly appear from his answer to the man out of whom the Devils depart­ed, when he desired to be with him, Luke 8.38, 39. Now the man out of whom the Devils were departed, be­sought him that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away saying, Return to thine own House, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee: The man de­sired that he might be with Christ. Now to follow Christ, this was a good work, it might have condu­ced very much to the good of his Soul, for to have sat under Christs Ministry, and to have heard his Doctrine; possibly the man desired this to express his gratitude, by ministring to Christ, and attend­ing his person, to do such service on all occasions as he should command him; yet the Lord Jesus chuseth rather to send him home to his own house to instruct his Family, than to answer his desire in suffering the [Page 239]man to be with him, which shews the great accep­tance that this work hath with Christ, in that he chose rather to have this man go home and instruct his Family, than to attend upon and minister to his own person.

6. As for such whose occasions call them to be much abroad, and to tarry long from home, I shall only hint two or three things:

• 1. When you are at home, be the more diligent and frequent in teaching your Children and Ser­vants, by how much the oftner your occasions ne­cessitate your absence from your Families.
• 2. Let your Charge at home cause you to dispatch your Business abroad with what expedition you can, that you may hasten to your Families; and withstand all sollicitations of one or other that would detain you from returning with all convenient speed to your own home.
• 3. Make up by Prayer what you cannot do by personal Instruction: Be earnest with God to take the care of them, and to teach them in your ab­sence.
• 4. If your occasions do necessitate you to be of­ten and long absent, depute some person in your absence that may do this work for you: Or if you have none that you can depute in your room, allot them such tasks as you shall see meet to exercise themselves withal whilst you are detained from them, and at your return take an account how they have improved their time therein.

7. If nothing that hath been said will prevail with you to lay aside this vain excuse, I have no spare time to do this work; I shall only adde this further, That God will find a time to punish, and pour out his wrath upon those persons that can't find a time to [Page 240]perform Family-Duties, as to instruct them, to pray with their Families, &c. Jer. 10.25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, and the Fami­lies that call not upon thy Name.

SECT. 12. The Plea of such as are afraid they should wrest the Scriptures, answered. How to come to the true and right understanding of the Scriptures.

Object. 12 I Am afraid I should wrest the Scriptures if I should go about to teach my Family, because I am a man of small learning; and the Apostle tells us, There are some things in the Scriptures hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned do wrest to their own destruction, 2 Pet. 3.16.

Answer: 1. Ought you not to be afraid of bringing the guilt of your Childrens blood upon your heads, by neglecting to teach them, and nursing them in ignorance, as well as fear wresting the Scri­ptures? If your Families be not instructed, but live and die in ignorance, they will perish eternally, but their Blood God will require at your hands, as hath been shewed before.

2. As there are some thing in the Scripture hard to be understood, so there are other things plain and easie: As, That we should love God with all our hearts, and love our Neighbour as our selves; That we should trust in the Lord at all times, and for all things; That we should do unto all men as we would that they should do unto us; That we should be contented in every condition: With many other Precepts and Directions pertaining to an holy Life: Which are so plain and easie to be understood, that persons of very mean capacities may understand [Page 241]them. The Prophet speaking of the way of Holi­ness, saith, Isa. 35.10. The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not erre therein. And as the Practical part of Christianity is easie to be understood, so there are many Principles so clearly and plainly re­vealed in the Scriptures, that persons of mean abili­ties may understand them. As, That God made man upright, and created him 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. [Page 242]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 [Page 243]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 [Page 244]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 [Page 245]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 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 [Page 247]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 [Page 248]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.
• [Page 249]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 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 'Tis 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 [Page 252]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 Ʋzziah 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, Ʋzziah, 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 Ʋzziah 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 [Page 253]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 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 [Page 254]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, [Page 255]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. [Page 256]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 [Page 257]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 [Page 258]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 [Page 259]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 [Page 260]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 Day­star 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, 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 [Page 261]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. Ʋntil 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 [Page 262] 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 [Page 263]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 [Page 264]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 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: [Page 265]—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 [Page 266]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 [Page 267]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 [Page 268]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. [Page 269]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 [Page 271]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 [Page 272]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 [Page 273]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 [Page 274]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 [Page 275]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 [Page 276]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 [Page 277]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.
• [Page 279]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 [Page 278] [...] [Page 279] [...] [Page 280]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. [Page 281]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. [Page 282]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 [Page 283]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, Ʋnderstandest 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 [Page 284]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 Com­mandment is for you; if ye will not hear, if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my Name, saith the Lord of Hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Whether it be a word of Com­mand, or Promise, or Threatning, or an Example of Gods Judgments on sinners, or of his blessing be­stowed on his servants, tell them, That these Com­mandments, O my Children, the great God that made you, and that will bring you to Judgment, hath given to you; if you obey them, he will love you and bless you, and give you all good things in this world, and great blessings in the world to come: But if you will not hearken to his Voice, but cast his Law behind your backs, he will send many heavy Judgments and great Plagues upon you in this world, and if they do not lead you to repentance, he will [Page 285]cast you both Body and Soul into Hell Fire. And so for the Promises, tell them, These great and precious Promises shall be your portion, if you will believe in Jesus Christ, and live holy and godly lives, Gal. 3.22. 1 Tim. 4.8. Do the like by the Threatnings, tell them, That these will surely be executed on them, if they live in those-sins against which such and such Judg­ments are threatned: For GOD is faithful, and able to perform his Word, and is no Respecter of per­sons, and there is no lying hid from his all-seeing Eye, nor any possibility to escape out of His Hand. VVhen you meet with Examples of Gods Judg­ments on impenitent sinners, tell them, Those Examples are recorded on purpose to keep them from falling into such sins, 1 Cor. 10.5, 6. and to lead them to Repentance, Luk. 13.1, 2, 3. And that if they live in the same sins, they must expect to meet with the same Judgments. And so also the Examples of Gods mercies towards his servants, tell them, That if they will serve God, the same mercies and bles­sings that God gave Abraham, or David, or any other of his servants, he will give them.

But of these things I have spoken before more largely in the Third Chapter, and it will be needless to repeat them again. By what hath been said there, it is evident that there is much more work lieth up­on Parents besides teaching them to read the Scrip­tures; as, VVatching over them, Reproof, Cor­rection, &c.

SECT. 22. Instructing Children while they are young, makes eminent Saints.

Object. 22 WE may teach our Children to know and remember the Scriptures, but we can't teach them obedience, that is Gods work; and what good will it do them to know and remember the Word, if they do not obey it? And besides, if they should whilst they are young walk in the ways of God, they will forsake them when they grow old, and be the worse for their in­struction, and make good the old Proverb, A young Saint, and an old Devil.

Answ. 1. It is true, that it is Gods work to teach our Children Obedience, but we must use the means. Shall the Ministers of the Gospel forbear preaching the word, because the conversion of souls is Gods work, not theirs?

2. God doth ordinarily bless the Endeavours of Parents and Masters of Families, when they are di­ligent and faithful in their work, not only to the breeding of knowledge, but also to the bringing of their Children and Servants to obey the Lord, and walk in his ways, Gen. 18.19. He will command his Children and Houshould after him, and they SHALL keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment.— Here God promiseth that upon Abrahams command­ing his Children and Houshold, they should keep the way of the Lord. And what God promiseth to Abraham, he promiseth and will peform unto all that walk in Abrahams steps. If persons that have had Religious Education, would consult their own ex­perience, they will find that generally God instils [Page 287]Principles of Grace into such as are converted, by means of their Religious Education.

3. That Proverb, A young Saint and an old De­vil, was of Satans coining, to deter persons from seeking and serving the Lord, for it is contrary to the word of God, for that saith, Prov. 22.6. Train up a Child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. None prove such emi­nent Saints as they that begin to seek and serve the Lord whilst they are young. I will give two or three instances hereof: Josiah was a very humble tender-hearted Prince, he wept at the hearing of Gods Law, 2 Kings 23.18, 19. He was very zealous in the Reformation of Religion, and destroying Ido­latry, Chap. xxiii. ver. 1. to 25. There never was such a Passover kept either in the days of the Judges, or of the Kings of Israel or Judah, as Josiah kept, 2 Kings 23.22, 23. He excelled all the Kings that lived be­fore him, and all that came after him, verse 25. And like unto him there was no King before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, neither after him arose there any like him. And as he was thus eminent in Godliness, so he continued con­stant to his dying day: 2 Chron. 34.2. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his Father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor left. And one reason why he proved so eminent and constant in the ways of God, was this, He began while he was young to seek after the Lord, as is expressed in the following verse, For in the eighth year of his Reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his Father. Obadiah, who feared the Lord from his youth, 1 Kin. 18.12. I thy Servant fear the Lord from my youth; at­tained [Page 288]unto a great measure of the fear of God, verse 3. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly: He kept his Integrity though he lived in Ahabs House, who was such a wicked Prince, that he did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord. He was a great shelter to the Lords Prophets when they were persecuted, and some of them put to death by Jezabel, he hid an hundred Prophets in a Cave, and maintained them with Bread and VVater, verse 4. David began to seek and trust in God while he was young, Psal. 71.5. Thou art my hope, O Lord God, thou art my Trust from my youth: And we know he proved a man after Gods own heart, the instances of his exemplary piety are so many, that it would be too long, and so well known, that it would be needless to mention them.

SECT. 23. How to deal with Servants that hold Erronious Opi­nions.

Object. 23 SOme of my Servants are tainted with Erronious Principles, which I knew not of, when I took them into my Family; and I look upon it as labour in vain to instruct persons that are infected with Errors.

Answ. I. It may be their Lot was cast under your Roof, that you might convert them to the know­ledge and belief of the Truth; therefore try both by convincing Scriptures, and by a convincing Con­versation, to recover them from the Error of their ways. And for your better Encouragement, con­sider,

• 1. VVhat a blessed and glorious work it is to re­duce a man from Error to Truth, and to bring back a [Page 289]stragling sheep to the fold of Christ; by so doing you will be instrumental to save a soul, Jam. 5.19, 20. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a Soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
• 2. If you set your hearts to this work, and labour diligently in it, it is very probable that God will make you successful. There is a promise that such as err, shall be brought to the knowledge of the truth, Isa. 29.24. They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn Doctrine. And what is a more likely way to obtain this promise, than to be diligent in using means to reclaim those that err from the Truth?

II. If you have not parts and abilities sufficient to convince them of their Errors, and to perswade them to embrace the Truth, get some others that have greater abilities then your selves to deal with them, especially some godly Ministers who may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to con­vince the gainsayers, Tit. 1.9.

III. If they remain obstinate, and either will not be instructed, or after instruction persist in their erronious Opinions, remove them out of your Fami­lies, 2 John 10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this Doctrine, receive him not into your House.— If persons that teach false Doctrine are not to be received into our Houses, then such as have embra­ced false Doctrine, and do pertinaciously adhere thereunto, are to be cast out of our Houses. What the Apostle adviseth concerning Church Censures, Tit. 3.10. A man that is an Heretick, after the first and second admonition, reject. The same may suit in this case, if your servants hold dangerous Errors, [Page 290]and after several admonitions, and much means used to reclaim them, do obstinately adhere to their cor­rupt Principles, cast them out of your Families, lest they leaven the whole Family with their evil Opi­nions, 1 Cor. 5.6. Know ye not that a little leaven lea­veneth the whole lump?

SECT. 24. They that neglect Family Instruction are worse than In­fidels and Idolaters: Though others neglect this work, we must not.

Object. 24 NOne of my Neighbours do take this pains with their Families, and why then should I? Would you have me singular? That is the way to be laugh'd to scorn, and to be under re­proach?

Answ. 1. Take heed of bearing false witness a­gainst your Neighbour; it may be several of your Neighbours make conscience of this duty of teach­ing and instructing their Families, though you know it not. It is a grievous slander to say, None of your Neighbours take any care of their Families to teach them to know and serve the Lord, it is in effect to say they are as bad or worse than Infidels, 1 Tim. 5.8. If any provide not for his own, especially for those of his own House, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an Infidel. The Soul is of far greater value than the Body, and if so, then the neglecting to provide for the Souls of those of our own House, is a greater sin than the neglecting to provide for their Bodies. Idolaters train up and employ their whole Families to serve their Idols, Jer. 7.18. The Children gather wood, and the Fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their Dough, to make Cakes to the Queen of Hea­ven, [Page 291]and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Here are men, women, and children, all employed about the service of idol gods: If Idolaters train up their children to serve their idol gods, are not they worse than Ido­laters, who will not train up their Families to know and serve the true God? So that you charge your Neighbours with a very great sin, and an high crime, when you say that none of them instruct their Families.

2. Suppose none of your Neighbours should in­struct their Families, yet you must instruct yours: Joshua resolved that though all Israel should neglect the service of the true God, and turn aside to idols, yet he and his House would serve the Lord, Josh. 24.15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, chuse you whom you will serve, whether the Gods which your Fathers served, that were on the other side of the Flood, or the Gods of the Amorites in whose Lands ye dwell; but as for me and my House, we will serve the Lord. Your Neighbours neglect of their duty will not excuse you at the day of Judgment, nor shelter you from the wrath of God, nor mitigate your Torments in Hell, if you suffer your Families to die in igno­rance, and so to perish eternally for want of instru­ction.

3. You are not singular in this work, for the wi­sest, the most holy, the best men that ever lived, have been careful to train up their Families in the knowledge and fear of the Lord, as Abraham, Gen. 18.19. David, Psal. 34.11. Joshua, Josh. 24.15. Yea which of all the Saints and Servants of God ever neglected it?

4. Suppose your Neighbours should reproach you for instructing your Families, and call you by [Page 292]any odions names, this should not at all dishearten you from this good work of Family-Instruction: For,

• 1. It is a blessed and happy thing to suffer re­proach for doing any work that Jesus Christ sets us about; 1 Pet. 4.14. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified: Matth. 5.11, 12. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake, rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven.
• 2. In this work you do Christ service, and those that serve Christ shall be honoured by God, John 12.26. — If any man serve me, him will my Father honour. And if God honour you, you need not care who despiseth or reproacheth you.

SECT. 25. How to deal with such as refuse Instruction.

Objects 25 I Would very willingly instruct my Family, if they were willing to be instructed, but my Family will not submit to instruction; and what can I do in this case?

Answ. 1. Enquire whence it comes to pass, that God afflicts you with this sore Judgment of rebelli­ous Children and Servants, that will not submit to in­struction: When God makes any members of our Families prove Crosses to us, he is usually bringing some sin to our remembrance, and chastising us for it, as hath been already hinted, Object. 5. Answ. 1.

2. Pray to God to turn and bow their hearts to be willing to embrace instruction. What Solomon saith [Page 293]of the heart of a King, Prov. 21.1. The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the Rivers of Water, he turneth it whither soever he will. The same is true of the hearts of all other men, they are in the Lords hand, and he turneth and disposeth of them as he pleaseth. Though your Children or Servants should be never so vile, perfect slaves to Sin and Satan, op­posite to all that is good, God can change their hearts and make them come and submit themselves to you, and desire to be instructed by you in those things that concern their salvation, Rev. 3.9. Behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan,—behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet.—What a great and sudden change did God work on the Jayler's heart? Before God touched his heart, he dealt harshly and ruggedly with the Apostles, He thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks, Acts 16.24. but when God came to awaken him, before one night had passed over his head, he was so altered that he came trembling, and fell down at the Apostles feet, and desired to be in­structed what course he should take to save his soul, vers. 29, 30. He called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out & said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

3. After you have prayed to God, watch your op­portunities, wherein it is most probable they will li­sten to you, as in sickness, or when they are under some other affliction, or in a great storm of Thunder and Lightning, or under any other awakening Provi­dence, and when you find them in a tractable frame, deal effectually with them, set home upon their hearts the greatness of their sin, in refusing instructi­on, and to that end put them in mind of these Scrip­tures, Prov. 1.24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31. & 15.32. Jer. 6.8.

In times of distress God is wont to open mens ears to discipline, which are shut against good counsel in the day of prosperity; Job 36.8, 10. If they be hol­den in the cords of affliction, he openeth their ear to disci­pline. When there were mighty thundrings and lightnings in the Land of Egypt, Pharaoh though he was a man of a hard heart, sent for Moses and Aaron, and humbled himself for his sins, and desi­red their prayers, Exod. 9.27, 28. The Prophet Je­remiah likeneth unruly persons that will not listen to and obey such Instructions as are given them out of the word, unto the wild Ass, Jer. 2.24. A wild Ass used to the Wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure, in her occasion who can turn her away? All they that seek her, will not weary themselves: In her month they shall find her. As the wild Ass that is used to the wilderness wanders up and down at her pleasure, and cannot be tamed till her month come; that is, till she grows big with young, and is weary and heavy pained with the burden that she carries, and then it is easie to find her out, and deal with her. So it is with some sinners, though they be as wild and as unruly as the Ass that is used to the Wilderness, and there is no turning of them whilst they are in their prosperity, and when they have their occasions and opportunities of sinning; yet when their month comes, when they are burdened with afflictions, and involved in such streights & difficulties, that they cannot tell what to do to wind out of them, then it is easie having access to them. Wherefore if you have unruly Servants, or unruly Children, watch your seasons to deal with them; and when God strikes fear and terrour into their hearts by any pro­vidence, do you strike in with your instruction.

4. If you cannot do any good to them by instru­ction, [Page 295]endeavour to win them to Christ by a pious, heavenly, exemplary conversation. There is great force in a godly conversation, to gain upon such per­sons as stand out against and shew much opposition to the word of God, 1 Pet. 3.1. Likewise ye Wives be in subjection to your own Husbands; that if any obey not the Word, they also may without the Word be won by the con­versation of the Wives.

5. Desire some godly Ministers to deal with them, if you cannot prevail with them your selves to sub­mit to instruction. It may be God will bless the Counsel, the Reproof, the Exhortations that his Mi­nisters shall give your Children and Servants, if you make known your cafe to them, and desire them to deal with your Families, and to convince them out of Gods word that it is their duty, and will conduce much unto their good, to submit to instruction. It is said of John Baptist, who was one of Christs Mini­sters, Luke 1.17. He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the Disobedient to the wisdom of the Just. And the like is promised Mal. 4.6. He shall turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the hearts of the Children to the Fathers, lest I come and smite the Earth with a Curse. And what was promi­sed to John the Baptist, the same good effect may we expect from the endeavours of other godly Mini­sters, namely, that God will bless their labours to the conversion of our Children.

6. If they be your Children that refuse to be in­structed, correct them. The Rod may do that which words will not do. Solomon adviseth to apply the Rod to such as are fools, Prov. 26.3. — A Rod for the fools back. Now if you would know whom he accounts fools, you shall find they are such as re­fuse [Page 296]and despise instruction, Prov. 15.5. A fool despi­seth his fathers instruction: And Prov. 1.7. Fools de­spise wisdom and instruction. Now the Rod of Cor­rection will fetch this folly out of the hearts of your Children, Prov. 22.15. If they be your Servants that refuse instruction, as soon as you can with a good conscience, dismiss them from your service. David's care was to get good Servants, and if any of them proved vitious, and would not be reclaim­ed, he cast them out of his Family, Psal. 101.6, 7. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the Land, that they may dwell with me; he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me; he that worketh deceit, shall not dwell within my House; he that telleth lies, shall not tarry in my sight. Imitate this example of David, get godly Servants, or at least endeavour to make them godly after they are come under your Roof; and if they be such as will not be instructed and reformed, re­move them; and make this Covenant with all that you shall admit for time to come, That they submit unto instruction.

SECT. 26. What they should do who find no success on their Labours in teaching their Families? Several Encouragements to such to continue this work of Family-Instruction.

Object. 26 I Have taken great pains in teaching my Family, but I see no success of my La­bours; I can't find that any of them are reformed and turned from their sins, or have got any saving work of Grace upon their souls, notwithstanding all the pains that I have taken with them: And this discourageth me, and makes me think sometimes to give over this work.

Answ. 1. If there be no success of your Labours in your Family, see if the cause be not in your [Page 297]selves: Do you water your seed that you sow with your Prayers and Tears? Do you wrastle with God for a blessing? Are you fervent in prayer for the conversion and edification of such as are under your charge? Do you shew a good example to your Fa­mily, and walk convincingly before them, and teach them by your conversation? Do you go about this work in the Name of the Lord, relying on his strength, and depending on his assistance, and look­ing for his presence with you? Do you watch over their Conversations, as well as teach them? Do you reprove and correct your Children when they walk contrary to the word of God? Do you instruct your Families diligently, seriously, frequently? Or is this work done but seldom, and in a slight manner? Do you labour to know their state, and to apply that which is suitable to them, and profitable for them? If the ground and cause why you have no better success, be in your selves, reform that which hinders your suc­cess, and you shall soon find the blessing of God going along with your Labours.

2. If the cause of your Families unprositableness lie in themselves; 1. Shew them what a great sin, and how dangerous it is, to be unprofitable under the means of grace; and turn them to such Scriptures as these, Matth. 3.10. & 25.30. Luc. 13.6, 7. Heb. 6.7, 8. and press them home upon their consciences. 2. Di­rect them what means they should use that they may profit better by your instructions: what they are, I have hinted already in Chap. iii. Direct. 15. pag. 165.

3. There may be good success of your Labours though you perceive it not; the Lord may have con­veyed the seed of grace into their Souls, by your Instruction, though you discover it not; and it [Page 298]may grow, though you discern it not; Mark 4.26, 27. So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, and he know­eth not how. God many times distils his Grace like dew, in a silent insensible manner, Hos. 14.5. I will be as the dew unto Israel.

4. Your want of success should be so far from causing you to desist from this work of Family-In­struction, that it should stir you up to ply your work with greater diligence, and cause you to abound in actings of faith upon those Promises where the Lord hath promised to bless and prosper his peoples la­bours. I will mention three or four to this purpose. Isa. 65.22, 23. Mine Elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands, they shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble: Psal. 1.3. Whatsoever he doth shall prosper. 1 Tim. 4.13, 16. Give attendance to reading, to exhor­tation, to doctrine: Take heed to thy self, unto thy Do­ctrine, continue in them, for in doing this, thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee. Deut. 15.10. The Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. The less success and blessing you find attending your labours, be the more earnest in pleading such Promises as these are, and the more abundant in acting faith upon them.

5. Though you can't see any fruit of your La­bours either in the conversion or edification of any that are under your charge, but do apprehend that your labour hath hitherto been in vain, yet you must not desist from this good work of teaching and in­structing your Families, but continue therein as long as you live. And that you may not sit down under discouragement and give over instructing your Families, because you do not find success in [Page 299]your work; Let me propose to you these following Considerations.

I. Consider that God often renews and repeats the same means and ways to bring about our Conver­sion, though former means have not prevailed with us to lead us to repentance, Job 33.29, 30. Lo all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his Soul from the Pit, to be inlightned with the light of the Living. God takes great pains with one and the same man, to bring back his Soul from the Pit; He worketh, He doth not only call, or counsel and perswade, but He worketh, these things, all these things; that is, He worketh by his Word, v. 23. and by va­riety of Providences, Mercies, Afflictions, &c. men­riety in the fore-going verses; and not only once or twice, but oftentimes: And there is a note of at­tention prefixed to this, that we may give the greater heed to it, LO! Now if God taketh great pains, and worketh oftentimes by the same ways and means, with one and the same man, to bring back his Soul from the Pit, shall we think much day by day to in­struct our Families, and to continue so doing, that we may be instrumental to save their Souls, though hitherto we have seen no success of our Labours?

II. Though you see no fruit of your labours for the present, yet you may do before you die, Gal. 6.9. Let us not be weary of well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Yea though you should see none whilst you live, yet after you are dead, your Children may remember what you taught them whilst you lived, and may thereby be brought to be­lieve in Christ, and repent of their sins. After Christ was dead, his Disciples were much helped in their faith by calling to remembrance what he had taught them in his life-time: John 2.22. When there­fore [Page 300]he was risen from the dead, his Disciples remembred that he had said this unto them; and they believed the Scriptures, and the word which Jesus had spoken. Though the Seed of the Word seem to lie dead in their hearts for the present, yet possibly God may quicken it by some affliction. Manasseh was He­zekiah's Son, and so doubtless had good instructions from his Father, but yet he proved very vitious, till he came into affliction; he shed much innocent blood, he dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wi­zards, and used inchantments and witchcrafts, he was a great Idolater, and built Altars for all the host of Heaven, &c. But when the Lord brought him into affliction, he humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers, and was brought to Re­pentance, 2 Chron. 33.11, 12, 13. It is probable that there is mention made of his humbling himself be­fore the God of his Fathers, to shew that his Fathers Instructions were instrumental to bring him to Re­pentance, when he was in his affliction.

III. Though you should not convert your Chil­dren or Servants by the instructions which you give them out of the word of God, yet possibly what you do may prepare them for the Ministry of the Word; the Seed you have sown may be quickned by the Ministry of the Word to their conversion and salvation. And this is no small mercy to be in­strumental to plow up the fallow ground, and to prepare the hearts of your Children and Servants, for the publick Ministry of the Word. All that heard John Baptist were not brought to believe in Christ, yet was not John the Baptist's labour in vain, for John's Labours did prepare them for Christ; and when they came to hear Christ, the remembring what they had heard from John, did help them to [Page 301]believe in Christ, as we may see John 10.40, 41, 42. And Jesus went away again beyond Jordan, into the place where John at first baptized, and there he abode; and many resorted to him, and said, John did no miracle, but all things that John spake of this man were true. And many believed on him there.

IV. Consider what pains the Husbandman takes in tilling the Earth, and what long patience he exer­ciseth before he reaps any fruit of his Labours: He ploweth often in order to the fitting and preparing the Earth to receive the Seed, and after his Seed is sowen it lieth buried under the ground, and for a season nothing appears; after his Seed cometh up, it is a long time to the Harvest; and many times by unseasonable weather, either immoderate Rain, or Drought, or Blasting, or Mildew, all his Labour is lost: Yet he renews his labour again year af­ter year, as long as he liveth, and ploweth and soweth his ground, in hope of the blessing of God. The Apostle puts us in mind of the Hus­bandmans patience, to make us patient in waiting for better things, James 5.7. Be patient therefore Brethren, unto the coming of the Lord; Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious Fruit of the Earth, and hath long patience for it, until he re­ceive the early and latter Rain. What though you see no fruit after much pains taken with your Families? And after some appearance of fruit, there comes a blasting of your hopes, yet you must renew your Labours day after day, hoping that at length God will bless your endeavours. The fruit of instruction in the conversion and edi­fication of your Families, is much better than the fruits of the earth, and is worthy of more pains and patience than the Husbandman exerciseth for obtain­ing the fruits of the earth. [Page 302]Remember therefore and follow the counsel of Solomon, Eccles. 11.6. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening with-hold not thy hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

V. Though you should not convert the Souls of your Children and Servants, yet you must go on to instruct them, for in so doing you shall deliver your own Soul, 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: And shall be clear from their blood, Acts 20.26, 27. I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God.

VI. Though you should take much pains in in­structing your Families, and should be instrumen­tal to convert none of them, yet your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord; for you shall have a great Reward from God: Your Reward shall be according to your work and pains that you have taken, not according to your success, Rev. 22.12. Behold I come quickly, and my Reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be. As it is with the Ministers of Christ, if they have taught the people diligently and faithfully the good word of the Lord, though they have not converted them, they shall have their Reward from God, and be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, Isa. 49.4, 5. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for naught and in vain; yet surely my Judgment is with the Lord, and my Work (or as it is in the Margin, my Reward) with my God—Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the [Page 303]Lord, and my God shall be my strength. So also it shall be with Masters of Families.

Wherefore do not give over this work through any discouragement, but be stedfast and unmove­able, always abounding therein, inasmuch as you know that your labour shall not be in vain; ac­cording to what you find recorded, 1 Cor. 15.58. Therefore my beloved Brethren, be ye stedfast, unmove­able, always abounding in the work of the Lord: for­asmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

SECT. 1. Answer.

1. THough our Children and Servants whom we have instructed, and for whom we have prayed, should prove very vile and wicked, yet we should hope as long as we and they live, that God in his due time may hear our Prayers, and bless our Endeavours for the conversion of their Souls, Eccles. [Page 305]9.4. For to him that is joyned to all the Living, there is hope. The Lord sometimes gives Repentance unto Life, to the worst of men, to such as are the Devils slaves, and such as are taken captive by him at his will, and to such as do oppose the means of their sal­vation, 2 Tim. 2.25, 26. And as God calls some of the chiefest Sinners, so he calls some towards the latter end of their days. Some were called into the Vineyard at the eleventh hour of the day, when they had spent all the day in idleness, Matth. 13.6, 7. About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? — Go ye also into the Vineyard— If we should die before them, and see them continuing in their sins till our dying day, yet as Noah, though he foresaw that the Gentiles who were the posterity of Japheth, Gen. 10.1, 5. would continue a long time in their estrangement from God, yet he hoped that God in due time would convert them, and cause them to embrace the true Religion, which was con­tinued in the Off-spring of Shem, Gen. 9.27. God shall enlarge (or as the word may be render'd, God shall perswade) Japheth, and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem. So should we hope concerning our Chil­dren, that God will perswade their hearts to repent of their sins, though we should see them go on in evil and destructive courses a long time together, and that because of his promise to circumcise not only our hearts, but the hearts also of our Seed to love him with all our hearts, and all our souls, that both we and they may have everlasting life, Deut. 30.6.

2. If after all our prayers, and tears, and instru­ctions, and endeavours after their salvation, we should see any of our Children or Servants live and [Page 306]die in such a condition as that we could have no hope of their salvation, we may quiet our minds with such considerations as these:

I. Consider Gods Soveraignty: He hath a sove­raign power over all his Creatures, to dispose of their temporal and spiritual estate according to his own pleasure; we are in Gods hand as clay in the hands of the Potter, Jer. 18.6. O House of Israel, cannot I do with you as this Potter, saith the Lord? Be­hold as the Clay is in the Potters hand, so are ye in mine hand, O House of Israel: And what is the power the Potter hath over the Clay? Rom. 9.21. Hath not the Potter power over the Clay, of the same lump to make one Vessel unto Honour, and another unto Dishonour? Jer. 18.4. The Vessel that he made of Clay was marred in the hand of this Potter; so he made it again another Vessel, as seemed good to the Potter to make it. If it be in the Potters power to make every Vessel as seem­eth good to him, if he may make of the same lump one Vessel to honour, and another to dishonour; may not the great God do what he pleaseth with his Creatures? May not He make of Children that are born of the same Parents, and enjoy the same instru­ctions, one a Vessel unto Honour, and another a Vessel of his Wrath and Displeasure for ever? All Creatures in Heaven, and in the Earth, and in the Sea, and in all other places, are disposed of by God, according to his will and good pleasure, Psal. 135.6. Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in Heaven, and in Earth, and in the Seas, and in all deep places. And shall we think much, or repine against God, when he disposeth of our Children, or any other Mem­ber of the Family, as seemeth good in his sight. When the Lord said to Eli, I will judge his House for ever — And I have sworn unto the House of Eli, That [Page 307]iniquity of Eli's House shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever, 1 Sam. 3.13, 14. This was sad tidings, yet when Eli considered it was the Lord who had power to dispose of him and his Family, as seem­eth good in his sight, he quietly submitted his will to the will of God, vers. 18. It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. No Parents did ever thirst more after the salvation of their Childrens Souls, than Jesus Christ thirsted after the salvation of fal­len man; yet when he saw that it was his Fathers good pleasure to hide the Mysteries of the Gospel from some persons who were wise and prudent in worldly matters, with whom he had taken much pains in preaching the Gospel, he rested abundantly satis­fied in the will and pleasure of his Father, Mat. 11.25, 26. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto Babes: Even so Father, for so it seem­ed good in thy sight. From verse 19. to 24. Jesus Christ upbraids the Cities wherein most of his migh­ty works were done, because they repented not, and tells them what an heavy condemnation they should have at the day of Judgment, more dreadful than Tyre or Sydon, or Sodom and Gomorrah: And at that time, when he had done upbraiding those Cities, he addresseth himself to his Father, wherein he de­clares his perfect acquiescence in his Fathers will, Even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight; al­though he had hid the Mysteries of the Gospel from the wise and prudent, (and we know that eternal perdition followeth the hiding of the Gospel, 2 Cor. 4.3. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost) and had revealed them only, or chiefly at least, to such as were in comparison of the wise and prudent [Page 308]men in the world, but Babes. Now seeing our Lord Jesus did acquiesce in his Fathers good pleasure, when he saw many amongst whom he had preached and done his mighty works, continuing in their un­belief and impenitent condition, and so perishing eternally; It concerneth us to submit our selves to the will and pleasure of God, if after all the pains that we have taken to convert and save our Childrens Souls, he should leave some of them to perish in their sins. We must know that he is God, and so may dispose of us, and all that belongs to us, as he pleaseth, and howsoever he is pleased to deal with us, we must be still and silent under his hand, Psal. 46.10. Be still, and know that I am God.

II. Others as good and better than we, have met with the same trial, viz. some of their children and servants have degenerated and proved vicious and lewd persons, and have lived and died in their sins, notwithstanding all the pains that their Parents and Governours have taken to convert and save their souls. Adam had a Cain, (who murthered his own brother, and was a fugitive and vagabond in the earth, and hath the brand of a wicked man set upon him by the Holy Ghost, 1 John 3.12.) as well as righteous Abel: Noah had an Ham, who saw and divulged his fathers nakedness, and had his fathers curse upon him and his posterity, as well as a pious Shem and Japheth: righteous Lot had two daughters that enticed him to drunkenness and in­cest: Ishmael in his younger time was so vile, that Abraham cast him out of his family for a scoffer; Isaac had a profane Esau who sold his Birthright for a mess of Pottage, a man hated of God; Esau have I hated, Rom. 9.13. as well as a godly Jacob. Jacob met with crosses in his Children, Reuben his first-born [Page 309]defiled his Fathers Bed, Simeon and Levi by their cruelty in slaying the Shechemites after they had drawn them to be circumcised, made Jacob's name to stink among the Inhabitants of the Land, Gen. 34.30. Judah lieth with his Daughter-in-law Tamar, suppo­sing her to have been an Harlot, with divers other crosses in the rest of his Children, as the selling of Joseph into Egypt, &c. Aaron lost two sons, Nadab and Abihu, In the very act of sin, as they were offer­ing up strange fire, fire came from the Lord, and con­sumed them. Eli's children were such sons of Belial, that their wickedness caused men to abhor the offer­ings of the Lord, 1 Sam. 2.12, 17, David met with much affliction in his children; Amnon ravished his sister Tamar, Absolom killed Amnon when his heart was merry with wine, Absolom was cut off in the Act of his Rebellion, Adonijah seeks the Crown which his father had devolved upon his son Solomon. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself had a select Family, con­sisting of twelve Apostles, whom he chose out of all Israel, and whom he often instructed with great power, ( for his word was with power, Luke 4.32.) and yet one of them proved little better than a devil, John 6.70. Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He proved so vile, that he betrayed his Master for thirty pieces of silver, and then went and hang'd himself, and went to his own place. Elisha the Prophet had a lying servant, Gehazi, who went in his Masters name, but contrary to his Masters mind, to Naaman the Syrian, and demanded and re­ceived for his own use a great sum of money, as much as two men could carry, and two changes of Gar­ments, 2 Kings 5.20, 21, 22, 23. These examples, with several others which might be produced, do shew that though it be a great affliction to have evil [Page 310]children and evil servants, yet it is a temptation com­mon to men, even to good men, yea such as have be­fallen the best men that ever lived upon the face of the earth, whose persons have been very dear and precious in the sight of God, and their works and labours have been graciously accepted of him. And therefore we should not be disquieted or cast down without measure, because God doth not bless our labours with the converting and saving of all the members of our families, neither should we conclude from hence that either our persons or our labours are not accepted with God.

III. Our children are Gods creatures as well as our children: God hath a greater right to them, and a greater interest in them, than we have. We were but Gods instruments to bring them into the world: It was (not we, but) God created and gave them their beings, it was Gods hands that framed and fa­shioned their Bodies when they lay in their Mothers womb, Psal. 119.97. Thy hands have made and fashion­ed me: 1 Cor. 12.24. God hath tempered the body toge­ther: It is God that gave them every part of their Bodies, as Skin, and Bones, and Flesh, and Sinews; Job 10.11. Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews: And every mem­ber of their Bodies, as Eyes, Hands, Feet, &c. Psal. 139.16. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being im­perfect, and in thy Book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, whenas yet there was none of them. It was God which created their Souls, after he had formed their Bodies, Zech. 12.1.— Saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the Heavens, and layeth the foundation of the Earth, and formeth the Spirit of Man within him: Ezek. 18.4. Behold all Souls are mine; as the Soul of the Father, so also the Soul of the [Page 311]Son is mine; the Soul that sinneth shall die: It was God that drew them out of the womb, Psal. 22.9. Thou art he that took me out of the womb: It is God that hath preserved them alive ever since they were born, Psal. 66.8, 9. O bless our God, ye people,—who holdeth our Soul in life. And seeing God hath a far greater right to our Children than we have, shall we be discontented when he disposeth of them as he seeth good? May not he say to us, when we repine at any thing that he doth to our children, as the good Housholder said to those that murmured at him, Matth. 20.13, 15. Friend I do thee no wrong,—Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? And as our children are the works of his hands, so his mer­cies towards his works, are beyond our mercies to­wards those that proceed from our bowels, Psal. 145.9. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works: He desires their welfare both here and for ever, more than we can do, Job 14.15. — Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands: Deut. 5.29. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their Children for ever! Now if the Lord, whose tender mercies are over all his works, and who desireth our Childrens welfare more than we our selves do, saw cause to cast away the works of his own hands into eternal tor­ments, shall we by our discontent go about to con­troul God in what he hath done, as though we were wiser or more merciful than He?

IV. Though there be a great depth in Gods Judg­ments, and such as we can't search out the reason of them, why sometimes he converteth one, and leaveth another to perish in his sins, although both are born of the same Parents, and live under the same means [Page 312]of grace; Yet he is always Just and Righteous, and True, and Faithful, in all his ways. The Apostle was a man of a deeper insight into the mysteries of the Gospel than we are, yet he confesseth some of Gods ways to be unsearchable, Rom. 11.34. O the depth of the Riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his Judgments, and his Ways past finding out! Whatever Judgments God inflicts upon Nations, or particular Persons, though we may not be able to fathom the reason of them, yet we must believe that all that the Righteous God doth, is Just and True, and that he never acts contrary to the Truth of his Word, or against the Rules of Ju­stice, Rev. 15.3. They sing the Song of Moses the Ser­vant of God, and the Song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, Just and True are thy Ways, thou King of Saints. This Song was sung upon the pouring out of the seven last Plagues, in which was filled up the Wrath of God, verse 1. From hence it is evident that the Lord doth nothing beyond the Rules of Justice, or contrary to his Truth, when he poureth out his wrath to the ut­most either upon a Nation, or upon particular per­sons. When the children of godly Parents sin against God, and God casteth them away for their sins, he doth not by this act pervert Justice and Equity; Job 8.3, 4. Doth God pervert Judgment? Or doth the Al­mighty pervert Justice; If thy Children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their trans­gression? Now when God doth those things which are Just and Right, we should be so far from mur­muring, that vve should praise and honour God, al­though vve our selves should suffer deeply by those Judgments. After Nebuchadnezzar was driven from his Throne, and forced to dwell among the Beasts of [Page 313]the field, where he was wet with the dew of Heaven, and did eat grass with the Oxen, when his under­standing returned to him again, although he was a­bout seven years under this great and unusual Judg­ment, because he saw Justice and Truth in this stroke of God, he extolled and praised the Lord, Dan 4 37. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of Heaven, all whose Works are Truth, and his Ways are Judgment; and those that walk in pride, he is able to abase.

V. God shall have eternal Glory from them that perish, as well as from them that are saved: His Justice shall be glorified on them that perish, and his Mercy in them that are saved. When ungodly sinners are cast into Hell in great multitudes, God is glorified in their destruction, Isa. 5.14, 16. There­fore Hell hath enlarged her self, and opened her mouth without measure, and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoyceth, shall descend into it— But the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in Judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in Righteousness. Now seeing God shall be glorified in them that perish, this may quiet our minds, and keep down all mur­muring thoughts, if it should be our portion to have any of our children cut off in their sins. Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihu, were cut off in the act of sin, while they were offering strange fire, there went out fire from the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord; yet when Aaron heard Moses speak of Gods being glorified, he was silent under this heavy stroke, Lev. 10.3. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the People I will be glorified: And Aaron held his peace. God made all things and all persons, wicked as well as [Page 314]good men, for his own glory: Prov. 16.4. The Lord hath made all things for himself, yea even the wicked for the day of evil, Rev. 4.11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. And seeing God made all things and per­sons for his own pleasure and glory, he may glorifie himself according to his own will and pleasure, up­on every one of his creatures, and none may say un­to him, What doest thou?

VI. The consideration of the great and wonder­ful mercy of God in bestowing his grace upon our souls, and taking us into his everlasting Covenant, may quiet our minds, however it shall please him to deal with our Families. David met with great af­flictions in his Family, some of his children proved perverse and were very great crosses to him, and di­ed in such a state as he could have little or no hope of their salvation; Amnon was such a vitious person that he ravished his own sister Tamar, and was slain when his heart was merry with wine, 2 Sam. 13.28. by this phrase is signified that Amnon was little bet­ter than drunk when he was slain, as may be gathered from 1 Sam. 25.36. where Nabals drunkenness is ex­pressed by his heart being merry; Nabals heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken. Absolom who had caused his Brother Amnon to be slain, rose up in rebellion against his Father, and sought to take his Kingdom and Life from him, and was cat off in this act of sin? And how did David quiet himself under these great afflictions that befel his House? It was with the Covenant that God had made with his own Soul, 2 Sam. 23.5. Although my House be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting Cove­nant, ordered in all things, and sure; for this is all my [Page 315]vation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. The mercies and blessings of the Covenant are so great, and such unvaluable mercies, that when we conside the riches of Gods grace, and his infinite love in taking our own souls into Covenant vvith himself; this consideration may so fill our hearts vvith joy, as to swallow up all our sorrows, arising either from personal or family-afflictions. Wine will chear such as are of a sorrowful spirit, and make them forget their miseries, Prov. 31.6, 7. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine to them that be of heavy hearts: Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Gods love is better, and hath more efficacy to chear such as are of heavy hearts, than wine; Cant. 1.2. — Thy love is better than Wine: And if Wine will refresh such as are of sorrowful spirits, yea such as are ready to perish under their affliction, what efficacy is there in the love of God, which he hath manifested in ta­king our souls into Covenant, to comfort us under our greatest sorrows and miseries, even such as lie heavy upon our hearts, yea such as vve think vve shall perish under them?

SECT. 2. The Case of such as are overwhelmed with grief, because they fear their Children are in eternal Torments, con­sidered. Gods Justice in punishing Sinners to Eter­nity, vindicated.

TO these Considerations I shall add a Reply to such Pleas as those Parents whose Children have died in their sins may possibly make use of to ex­cuse their immoderate grief and discontent, and per­plexity of mind, under this affliction of losing their [Page 316]Children in such a state, as that they can have no hope of their salvation: And so I shall conclude this Treatise.

1 Plea. My Children that are dead in their sins, are gone into everlasting burnings, where their torments will be endless and intolerable; and it so pierceth my heart and distracteth my mind, when I think that those that came out of my Bowels, my Children, for whom I had such a dear affection, should be cast into the lake that burn­eth with fire and brimstone, where they must remain for eternity; that I am not able to bear it, but sometimes I am ready to fret against God; and at other times my heart is so full with grief, that I think it will break in pieces, and I shall die with sorrow.

Answ. I. If your Children be cast into eternal Torments for their sins, it is God hath done it; He keeps the Keys of Death and Hell: No person is cut off by death, none after death are cast into Hell, but at Gods appointment, Rev. 1.18. I have the Keys of Hell and Death: There is not so much as one Sparrow falleth to the ground, but at the will and by the appointment of God: Matth. 10.29. Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. If a Sparrow doth not fall to the ground vvithout the vvill of God, then surely an immortal Soul doth not fall in­to Hell Torments, but at his appointment: for the meanest Soul that ever was created, is of a thousand times more value than many Sparrows. And seeing it is God hath done it, how grievous and bitter soe­ver it be unto your Souls, you must bear it with pa­tience: Psal. 39.9, 10. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou diddest it: And this was no small stroke under which David was dumb, because the Lord gave him the blow; but it was so great, as that [Page 317]he was even consumed with it, as the next words shew, Remove thy stroke away from me, I am consumed by the blow of thine hand: By his being consumed, we may understand the greatness of his grief, as Psal. 31.9. Mine eye is consumed with grief, yea my soul and my belly; yet under this great stroke which consu­med his Soul and his Body with grief, he was dumb and opened not his mouth because God did it. What­soever cometh from the hands of God, must be born with silence and submission to his will, although it be so sharp and bitter, as that it will make us go mourn­ing as long as vve live, Isa. 38.15. What shall I say? He hath spoken unto me, and himself hath done it, I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my Soul. And as vve must be patient under all our griefs, so we must contentedly bear vvhatever grievous things befal our children, Jer. 10.19, 20. Wo is me for my hurt, my wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it—My Children are gone forth of me, and are not.—

II. God is righteous in vvhat he hath done to your Children, although he hath cast them into eter­nal torments. If you think it not consistent with Righteousness and Equity, to punish the sins of a few years vvith endless and eternal torments, consider

• 1. That the Scriptures assure us that the Lord is righteous in all his vvays, Psal. 145.18. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works: And if the Lord be righteous in all his ways, then also in this vvay of his Providence, vvhen he condemneth vvicked men to eternal torments for the sins they committed in that short space of time they lived in the vvorld. Yea, more particularly, vve find the Scriptures ascribing Righteousness to God in this ve­ry case, vvhen he punisheth ungodly persons vvith [Page 318]everlasting torments, 2 Thes. 1.6, 9. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you—who shall be punished with everlasting de­struction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glo­ry of his power.
• 2. The Angels are more glorious Creatures than the Souls of Men, yet vvhen they sinned against God, the Lord did not spare them, but for their first sin cast them down into hell, 2 Pet. 1.4. God spared not the Angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and deli­vered them into Chains of Darkness, to be reserved unto Judgment: And that they shall be punished in Hell vvith everlasting torments, is evident from Matth. 25.41. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. And this he did vvithout affording them any means of their recove­ry from their sin and misery, vvhich vvas granted to fallen man, Heb. 2.16. For verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels, but he took on him the Seed of Abra­ham. Now seeing God cast those glorious Crea­tures the Angels, into eternal torments for their first transgression, and did not spare them one day, or afford them any means of recovery after their fall, shall vve think that God deals hardly vvith the Sons of men, in condemning them to eternal torments, vvhenas he afforded them means of grace and salva­tion, and gave them a long time and space for their Repentance, vvaiting day after day, and year after year, for their returning to him? Is not this far grea­ter mercy, and less severity, then vvas shewn to the fallen Angels?
• 3. Sin is committed against an eternal God, against an infinitely holy, great, and glorious GOD, and therefore deserveth an infinite and eternal punish­ment. We do not understand, or at least vve do not [Page 319]consider, what an odious thing Sin is, and what a great God the Lord is; and vvhat an infinite distance there is between the great and holy God, and a poor sinful man, vvhen vve think that the Lord deals hard­ly vvith sinners in punishing their sins vvith eternal torments. What an hainous crime is it for man, who is but a poor vvorm made of dust and ashes, to af­front, despise, and rebel against the great GOD of Heaven and Earth, vvho gave him his Being, and loadeth him vvith his Benefits every day? To tread the Laws of God under his feet, and to cast his vvord behind his back, to slight all his Promises and Threat­nings, to contemn all his offers of Grace and Mercy, and though he wait with much patience and long-suffering many days and years for his Repentance, to refuse to return and obey the Voice of his Creator? Doth not such a despising of the Eternal, Immor­tal, Ever-Blessed God, deserve to be punished with eternal Torments?
• 4. It is accounted no injustice among men to in­flict a punishment of long continuance for a crime that was committed in a very short time. If Murder, Adultery, Treason, or some other capital Offence, which was committed in the space of a few minutes, be punished with perpetual imprisonment, or perpe­tual banishment, no man counts it injustice, or thinks the Offender is hardly dealt with, because he is so long punish'd for an offence committed in so short a time: Why then should any man think that the Righteous God dealeth hardly or unjustly in punish­ing sinners with perpetual torments, for the sins they committed those few years they lived in the world?
• 5. It was their own choice to embrace eter­nal death. God set before them Life and Death, He told them if they did evil, they should die eter­nally; [Page 320]but if they would repent, and do that which is good in his sight, they should have everlasting life; and he called upon them earnestly, to chuse Life, ra­ther than Death: Deut. 30.15, 19. See, I have set be­fore you this day life and good, death and evil—There­fore chuse life—He offered them Life in his Son, and they would not go unto him for it, John 5.40. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. He pro­tested solemnly to them, that he was loth they should die, and therefore pleaded with them, Why will ye die? Ezek. 33.11. Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live: Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O House of Israel? And therefore they must blame themselves, not the Lord, for their being cast into eternal Torments.
• 6. Had they been permitted to have lived for ever upon the face of the Earth, they would have sin­ned for ever: The heart of the Sons of men is fully set in them to do evil, 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 [Page 321]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 [Page 322]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 [Page 323]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, [Page 324]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 he calls you off from mourning for your children, whom he hath rejected, to make sure of your own and your surviving Relations Sal­vations.

VII. Turn your indignation which is apt to arise in your hearts against God because he hath cast away your Childrens Souls, into indignation against sin, which was the cause why God cast away their Souls. Hate all sin in your selves, and hate all sin in others, with a perfect hatred, and never be reconciled to it as long as you live, for the mischief that it hath done to you and your Children. Seek by way of holy revenge the utter destruction of all sin. Root it out of your hearts, and of your Families, and do what you can to hinder it from growing any more.

SECT. 3. The Plea of such as are troubled, because they conveyed Original sin to their Children, answered.

Plea 2 MY Children that died in their sins, and are now gone down into everlasting burn­ing, received their corrupt natures from me; I was in­strumental to convey unto them their Original Sin, and their Original Sin caused their Actual Sins, which cau­sed their Damnation, and this troubles me so exceeding­ly, that I know not what to do, I am ready to curse the day in which I entred into a married condition; I might have kept my self single, and then my wicked Children had never been born; and sometimes I am ready to curse my Parents who conveyed a sinful nature unto me.

Answ. 1. It is true that Parents do convey sinful natures to their Children, Psal. 51.5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

2. Though it be thus, Children must not blame their Parents for the blemishes they receive from their birth, Isa. 45.10. VVoe unto him that saith unto his Father, what begettest thou, or to the woman, what hast thou brought forth? Deut. 27.16. Cursed be he that setteth light by his Father or Mother, and all the People shall say Amen. Neither should we blame our selves for entring into a married state of life, For Marriage is honourable in all, Heb. 13.4. The Lord Jesus honoured it with his Presence, and working one of his first Miracles at a Marriage Feast, Joh. 2.1, 2, 11. Though Parents convey sinful natures to their Children, yet Marriage is no sin, 1 Cor. 7.28. But and if thou marry thou hast not sinned, and if a Vir­gin marry she hath not sinned.

3. Your being instrumental to convey corrupt natures to your Children should make you look more throughly into the odious nature of Original Sin, and to loath your selves, and to be deeply humbled for it, but it should not make you to repine that you were instruments of bringing Children into the World, for Children are counted blessings of God, and the man is called happy that is full of them, Psal. 127.3.6. So Children are an Heritage of the Lord. And the fruit of the womb is his reward — Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them—

4. The Lord did provide a remedy against your Childrens sinful natures which they derived from you. He hath sent forth his Son to save us from our sins, and to make us partakerr of the Divine Na­ture; His bloud is compared to a fountain, which cleanseth from all sorts of sins; it procureth the pardon of Original as well as Actual Sin. Zech. 13.1. In that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin, and for uncleanness. 1 Joh. 1.7. The bloud of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. He was sent by God, not only to pardon our sins, but to give us grace to turn from our sins, Acts 3.26. Ʋnto you first God ha­ving raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. And God made a free offer of his Son Jesus Christ with all his saving benefits to your Children, Rev. 22.17. It was their refusal of the remedy provided in and by Christ, which was the cause of their condem­nation, John 3.19. Their neglect of the great Sal­vation of the Gospel brought upon them eternal de­struction, Heb. 2.3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?

5. As God provided a Seviour for them so you [Page 327](if you did not neglect your duty) were careful to train them up in the knowledge of this Saviour, and to acquaint them with all the counsel of God, what he would have them believe, and what he would have them do, in order to their salvation, and did exhort them to wait upon God in all his Ordinances, & when you saw them do any evil, you reproved them, and warned them of the danger of their evil ways. If thus you have discharged your duty towards them, in warning them to turn from their evil ways, and de­claring to them the will and counsel of God con­cerning their salvation, which may be reduced to these two heads: That they should repent and turn from their sins unto God, and believe in his Son Je­sus Christ, you are clear from their bloud although they died in their sins. 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. Acts 20.20, 21, 26, 27. I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you— Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ — Where­fore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the bloud of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

SECT. 4. The case of those who are troubled because their Childrens bloud will be required at their hands, considered.

Plea 3 MY Childrens Souls are lost through my negligence and carelesness; if I had dis­charged my duty towards them, it would have been some relief to me, but I have been wanting in my duty towards them; And now what can I expect but that God should [Page 328]require their bloud at my hands, and this is such a trou­ble to me, that my Children through my negligence should be cast into everlasting burnings, and that their bloud should be required at my hands, that I know not what to do; I cannot rest either night or day, by reason of my sin in destroying my Childrens souls, and the misery which hereby I have brought upon mine own soul?

Answ. 1. This is a great sin, and ought to be much lamented, that you should be guilty of the loss of your Childrens souls. And it is a wonderful thing that many Parents make so light of it, it is an argu­ment that they are under a spirit of slumber and ju­dicial hardness of heart. How great an evil it is for Parents to be guilty of the bloud of their childrens souls, and how they ought to be affected with it I have shewn before, Chap. 2. Sect. 2. But though this be a great sin, a sin to be lamented as long as you live, yet you must take heed of being swallowed up with over-much sorrow. Satan labours what he can to keep us under blindness and hardness of heart, and to hinder us for mourning for our sins, but when he cannot do that, because God hath opened our eyes, and affected our hearts with the sight of our sin and misery, he will endeavour to make us mourn without measure, especially if we have been great sinners. The incestuous Corinthian committed a great sin, such as was not so much as named among the Gentiles, 1 Cor. 5.1. And till he was brought to re­pentance the Apostle adviseth the Church of Corinth to deal sharply with him, ver. 4, 5. but when he was humbled, the Apostle adviseth the Church to com­fort him, and why? Least perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with over-much sorrow, 2 Cor. 12.7.

2. Though this be a mighty great and crying sin for Parents by their evil example, or their neglect [Page 329]to teach them, or by any other means to be guilty of the bloud of their Childrens souls, yet it is not an unpardonable sin, but I may say of it as Shecaniah did to Ezra in another case, Ezra 10.2. We have trespassed against our God— Yet now there is hope in Is­rael concerning this thing. By Faith and Repentance you may obtain forgiveness of this as well as of other sins. The bloud of Christ being applied by Faith, cleanseth us from all manner of sin, 1 John 1.7. The bloud of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin; If Christs bloud cleanseth from all sin, then from being guilty of the bloud of souls, as well as from other sins. The merits of Christs bloud are sufficient to wash away the sins of the greatest sinners in the whole world, John 1.29. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. And all that believe in him shall for his sake receive the remissi­on of their sins, of what nature soever they have been, Acts 13.38, 39. Be it known unto you men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; And by him all that believe are ju­stified from all things, from which we could not be justifi­ed by the Law of Moses. Acts 10.43. To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Such whose sins are of the deepest die, who have com­mitted scarlet and crimson sins, whose hands have been full of bloud, have the full and free remission of all their sins promised upon their repentance, Isa. 1.15, 16, 17, 18. Your hands are full of bloud, wash ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do well—Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool. [Page 330]The Lord taxeth the Jews with the bloud of the Souls of poor Innocents, and telleth them their guilt herein was as evident as what appeareth upon a mans skirts, Jer. 2.34. Also upon thy skirts is found the bloud of the souls of poor innocents— Yet to these Jews that were guilty of the bloud of souls of poor Innocents the Lord promiseth mercy upon their re­pentance, Jer. 3.12, 13. Return thou back-sliding Is­rael, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep mine anger for ever, only acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God. Who were greater sinners than they that shed the bloud of the Lord Jesus Christ? Yet even to them that were guilty of the bloud of Christ, the Lord promiseth remission of that, and all their other sins upon their repentance. Acts 3.14, 15, 19. Ye denied the Holy One, and the Just, and desired a Mur­derer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life — Repent ye therefore, and be ye converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refresh­ing shall come from the presence of the Lord. The like we have also promised, Acts 2.23, 38, 39. where the Apostle tells them who had taken and with wicked hands had crucified and slain the Lord Jesus, that they were not excluded from the promises of mer­cy, but that upon their repentance they should re­ceive remission of their sins.

3. Testifie the truth of your repentance for suf­fering your deceased Children to perish through your negligence, by doubling your diligence in do­ing what in you lieth to save the souls of your sur­viving Children, and Servants, and all others under your charge, by praying to God for them night and day, and instructing them in the knowledge of those [Page 331]things that make for their peace, and shewing of them a good example, and the use of all other means. This will be a means to moderate your excessive sor­row, and to restore peace and comfort to your souls. For all Gods ways are ways of pleasantness, and his paths are paths of peace, Prov. 3.17. whilst we are in the way of our duty God is wont to come in with comfort.

SECT. 5. The Plea of such as are cast down, because God hath not answered their Prayers, or prospered their labours, answered.

Plea 4 IT may be some will say, The ground of my trouble for my deceased Children ariseth from hence, because I prayed often and earnestly for their conversion, and took much pains in teaching them, and yet the Lord hath cast them away; and because he hath not answered my prayers, nor blessed my labours, I am afraid I am none of his Elect, because it is said, Isa. 65.22, 23. Mine Elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands; They shall not labour in vain.

Answ. I. This is not so to be understood as though Gods Elect did convert every soul whom they la­boured by their instructions to bring home to the Lord. Jesus Christ is stiled Gods Elect, Isa. 42.1. Behold my Servant whom I uphold, mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth. Yet we find the same Prophet bringing in the Lord Jesus speaking thus, Isa. 49.4. I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought. And when he was here upon earth, many that saw his Miracles, and heard his Sermons re­mained in their unbelief and unconverted condition, Luke 16.14. John 12.37.

II. You have not laboured in vain, although your Children were not converted, for,

• 1. Though you did not convert your Children, yet you have delivered your own soul, 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. And the deli­vering of your own soul is worth all your pains, although you had taken a thousand times more than you have done.
• 2. Your labour is not in vain in respect of God, 1 Cor. 15.58. You know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord Although you did not convert your Chil­dren, yet your work shall have a glorious reward from God, Isa. 49.4, 5. He smelleth a sweet savour in your labours, and accepteth graciously both your person and your work, although your Children pe­rished under those instructions which you gave them out of the Word of God, 2 Cor. 2.15.

III. Your Prayers are not lost although they did not prevail for the conversion and salvation of your Childrens souls, for they shall be returned into your own bosom. When God doth not answer those Prayers we make for others by giving them the blessings we beg on their account, he answers them by returning some blessing upon our own souls, Psal. 35.13. But as for me when they were sick, my cloathing was Sack-cloath, I humbled my soul with fasting, and my Prayer returned into my own bosom?

SECT. 6. How God is faithful to his Promise, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed, and yet condemneth the wicked Children of godly Parents?

Plea 5 I Am much troubled to reconcile Gods provi­dence in casting away my seed, with his pro­mise, where he hath said, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed. Sometimes I am ready to question Gods faithfulness, sometimes I am ready to think that I my self am not in Covenant with God.

Answ. I. In all such cases where you are not able to reconcile Gods Providences with his Promises, you must stedfastly believe that God is faithful and righteous, although you cannot apprehend how such or such a Providence should be consistent with his faithfulness, or with his righteousness. Thus Jeremiah did firmly believe that God was righteous, although he stumbled much at the prosperity of wicked men, Jer. 12.1. Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee, yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments, Wherefore doth the way of the wicked pro­sper? Wherefore are all they happy that deal very trea­cherously? The Psalmist met with some Providences that seemed cross to Gods faithfulness, Psal 77.8. Doth his Promise fail for overmore? Psal. 89.39, 49. Thou hast made void the Covenant of thy Servant — Lord, where are thy former loving kindnesses which thou swearest unto David in thy truth? Yet he did believe every word of God to be true, Psal. 119.138, 160. Thy Testimones that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful — Thy Word is true from the be­ginning, and every one of thy righteous judgments endu­reth for ever. And there is good reason we should [Page 334]do thus, because we poor finite Creatures are not able to comprehend the works of the infinite and incomprehensible God. Divers of his Works, as well as his Essence, are incomprehensible, Job 37.5. God thundreth marvelously with his voice, great things doth he which we cannot comprehend.

II. It is good for you to view once and again the grounds upon which you conclude God hath taken your souls into his Covenant, because it is a business of great moment, wherein you cannot make too sure work, and the heart of man is full of deceit; yet withal know this, that it is not a sufficient cause for you to conclude, That God is not your God, and hath not taken you into this Covenant, because you have had Children that died in their sins, for Isaac was in Covenant with God, Lev. 26.42. Then will I remember my Covenant with Jacob, and also my Cove­nant with Isaac: And yet Esau, Isaacs Son, lived and died a prophane man, Heb. 12.16, 17. Lest there be any Fornicator, or prophane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birth-right, for ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the bles­sing, he was rejected, and found no place for repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

III. God fulfils his Promise in being the God of your Seed, if he take any of your Seed into Co­venant with himself, although he should not bestow his grace upon all of them.

IV. If we should interpret that Promise made to Abraham, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed, by Gal. 3.16, 29. And understand by the Seed of Abraham, to which God promiseth to be a God,

• 1. Jesus Christ. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the Promises made, he saith not unto seeds as of many, but as of one, and to thy Seed, which is Christ.
• [Page 335]2. Such as are Christs being given to him by the Father, and are in due time all drawn to him, If ye be Christs, then are ye Abrahams Seed, and heirs ac­cording to Promise. This will take off the difficulty mentioned in the Plea about reconciling Gods Pro­vidence in casting off your Seed, with his Promise, where he saith, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed; For God never casts off any of that Seed which he hath given to his Son, John 6.37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Ver. 39. And this is the Fathers will which sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. John 17.2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

V. If we understand that Promise, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed, of Abrahams, and every godly mans natural Seed, and interpret the Promise conditionally, provided that thy Seed walk in the steps of thy Faith, Rom. 4.12. and walk before me with perfect and upright hearts, as I required thee to do when I promised to make my Covenant between me and thee, Gen. 17.1, 2. This also will reconcile Gods Providence with his Promise, and vindicate his faithfulness in condemning the Chil­dren of godly Parents who live and die in their sins. For it is their unfaithfulness in not fulfilling the Conditions of the Promise, that was the cause of their condemnation. Had they followed their Pa­rents Faith, and godly Coversations, God would have been their God as well as the God of their Pa­rents, and have given them the same blessings he gave their Parents. David was a man in Covenant with God, 2 Sam. 23.15. Now these be the last words [Page 336]of David—he hath made with me an everlasting Cove­nant, yet he did not expect his seed should be saved if they lived and died in their sins. No, he told his Son Solomon plainly before his death, that if he expected the blessings of the Covenant, he must seek and serve God with a perfect heart, but if he forsook God, though he were Davids Son, God would cast him off for ever, 1 Chron. 28.29. And thou Solomon, my Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind, for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginati­ons of the thoughts; if thou seek him, he will be found of thee, but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever.