Commentary on Judges, Sermon 38
THE THIRTIE EIGHT SERMON ON THE SIXTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES.
WHile Gedeon was thus hard at worke and labouring, the Doct. 2. in verſ. 11.Angell came and ſpake comfortably vntounto him, as if he had bin praying, or in the like exerciſe; and not to terrifie him. To teach vsus, that our buſineſſe and works of our callings are no lets to vsus frō hauing cōmunion and fellowſhip with God, neither doe hinder his preſence and comfortable being with vsus. And the ſame may be ſaid of our callings themſelues ordained by him, bee they meane and baſe, or waightie. Therefore the Lord was with Iacob in his Gen. 28. 20.iourney, and in the way when hee was going from his brother Eſaus wrath and rage. And ſo hee made the Goſpell effectuall in Lydia by Pauls preaching, ſhe being then a ſeller of purple, and rich, and not yet truly conuerted to God. And the Lord bleſſed the two tribes in their calling, and habitation, ſaying: Reioyce Zebulon in thy goings out, [that is, in thy proſperous voiages on the ſeas] and thou Iſhachar in thy dwelling in tents, meaning in thy quiet keeping at home about thy traffique and buſineſſe.
And by this which I hauehave ſaid, let vsus marke; that if it be not long of our ſelues, our lawfull callings and buſineſſe are no hindrances of vsus from the ſeruing of God holily and religiouſly, (as ſome thinke they be) but that from them we may goe to prayer or the like exerciſe, in good manner, euen Note.as wee may from theſe to them. Although I may truly ſay this, that for not well learning it, few can ioyne theſe wiſely and rightly together, becauſe their affections and delights are ſet too egerly towards that which ſauers of the earth and of gaine; which is the cauſe that meaſure is not commonly kept therin. Dauid, ſaying, that he had rather be a doore-keeper in the houſe of the Lord, then to dwell in the tents of the vngodly, (which he would not hauehave ſaid, if mens attendance vponupon the baſeſt worke in their lawful callings, had been an hindrance to them from Gods ſeruice) may by his words ſtay and comfort many weake Chriſtians, who thinke that they are much letted from the duties of godlineſſe, euen by the very vſing of their callings, becauſe they be not ſpirituall, as prayer and the like exerciſes are. But to end this, let the vſe of that which hath been ſaid, be thus much vntounto vsus, that wee Note.euer labour to be ſo innocent, & well gouerned in al our earthly buſineſſe, and workes of our calling, that we may not driue the Lord from vsus, but hauehave him alwaies with vsus by the ſpirit of truth, direction, and comfort, as we hauehave heard he hath been with other (and was here with Gedeon) in their earthly affaires, for that is the vſing of them aright, and in their kinde.
The next thing in this verſe is this, that though the Lord ſent his Angell to Gedeon for his owne reliefe and comfort, and alſo the peoples, yet wee ſee this was not done, till they were brought neere to extremitie: all helpe of man was paſt: and they had no other refuge vnderunder God, but to prouide for themſelues by flying from their dwellings to ſaue their liues. As for example, Gedeon, whoſe father was in ſome authoritie, and therefore none of the pooreſt, yet was at this point, euen thraſhing a little corne, by the aide and nouriſhment wherof, he and his might flie from the Midianites, as farre as that laſted to carrie them.
By this we learne, that God ſeeth it expedient in his wiſdome, ſometime to leaue the godly long vnderunder the croſſe, and not to put an end to their troubles by and by, as ordinarily he vſeth to doe: according to that which is ſaid in the Pſalme; Heauineſſe may endure for a night, but ioy commeth in the morning. Pſal 30. 5.And againe, He that commeth, will come, and not tarrie. But he knoweth Heb 10 37. Hoſ. 6. 4.well, that when he vſeth ſo to doe, wee commonly conceiue hope thereby, that our affliction (be it ſickneſſe, diſeaſe, loſſe, or any ſuch) will not hold vsus long; and therefore our deuotion is more ſhort and cold; and we in ſo doing, neither honour God, nor hauehave any proofe of our faith and patience, neither experience, another time after, how to beare our trouble aright: For Note.the which cauſe, the Lord ſometime diſappointeth our falſe hope, and putteth vsus to greater plunges, by holding vsus longer in our affliction, to the end we may ſearch our ſelues deeplier, and we may be more throughly touched with the feeling of our ſinnes, and rebellions; and ſo turne to him in faith and amendment.
For this cauſe the Lord holdeth vsus ſometime on the racke the longer, as in paine, ſickneſſe, or penurie; as alſo bondage to ſuch as hauehave ſuperioritie ouer vsus, and vſe it to our great diſquiet and wearying of vsus, and we pray and long to be deliuered, but the Lord ſeemeth not to heare vsus pray, but letteth the burthen remaine ſtill vponupon vsus. Wherefore, thinke we, doth he ſo? when he profeſſeth, that he afflicteth not willingly, neither delighteth therein, and Lament. 3. 39.yet we lie in paine and griefe. I anſwere, the Lord ſeeth wee be not yet tamed and humbled ſufficiently, great hath the pride of our hearts been, our inconſtancie, vnfaithfulneſſe, vncharitablenes alſo, with other ſinnes, and our mindes are ſet on the world exceſſiuely, and wandring after our diuers luſts. And we are like to returne to theſe courſes againe, if we were ſet at libertie, as ſoone as we deſire: therefore doth he ſeeke to weane vsus from theſe and the like, by continuing ſuch vnwelcome croſſes vponupon vsus.
So wee are for the ſame cauſes depriued oft times of our deare companion in mariage, which is a great part of death it ſelfe; or driuen from our owne habitation into the fearefull priſon, which taketh much from the delight of liuing; yea, and we are tried with ſudden dearth, as oft times by exceſſiue raine and wet; ſometime by drouth: as Gedeon here was in as hard a caſe, being driuen to flie from his owne dwelling, in a manner famiſhed. In theſe & the like, God leaueth his ſeruants, for the cauſes which I hauehave mentioned: and alſo to the end that his deliuerance and eaſe giuing after them all, may be the more precious when it commeth, hauing been ſo long deſired: and thirdly, to this end he holdeth his roddes the longer ouer vsus, that patience may hauehave her perfect worke in vsus, and himſelfe hauehave the whole praiſe. An example of this which hath been ſaid, wee hauehave in Ioſhua 7. where Ioſhua 7. 5.the people hauing promiſe of Gods aſſiſtance, went againſt the men of Al, not making queſtion but they ſhould ſpeed as well as they had done before at Iericho. But loc, on the ſudden they were ſmitten before their enemies. This aſtoniſht them, till the Lord tels Ioſhua the cauſe: Ye looke, ſaith the Lord, it ſhould be with ye as at other times, but I ſee cauſe of the contrarie. Looke well into the matter, and ye ſhall find that there is ſacriledge among ye, and therefore ye cannot ſtand before your enemies. So that though they were doing the worke of God, yet becauſe there was found in them this infection, it made the Lord to croſſe their hopes, that ſo they might purge out their ſinne, and goe about the worke in a better manner. Many wonder why the Lord ſaieth them long vponupon their ſicke beds, whereas if they had their health, they ſay they ſhould worſhip him in publike and priuate with more cheerefulnes. Wheras the Lord aimeth at a further matter, and would purge out their coldnes, hypocritie, careleſneſſe, and other ſinnes accompanying them euen in their good duties, that ſo they may returne thereto with more reuerence, and conſcience. We reade that Paul after his great lifting vp into heauen, was buffered with vnwelcome temptations: which though hee prayed that he might be rid of, yet the Lord ſuſpended his helpe, that Paul might be humbled, and fitted to vſe his knowledge the more fruitfully.
Now followeth the ſalutation of the Angell; the Lord is with thee, thou valiant Verſe 12.man. If we marke the ebbe and low eſtate of Gedeon (as we hauehave heard) it was wonderfull to heare this newes brought him, that the Lord was with Note.him, as it was lamentable to ſee in what diſtreſſe he was, when hee heard the words of this meſſage vttered to him. For it was as much as if the Angel had ſaid, the Lord loueth thee, as one of his deare ones, and he is with thee euen now to comfort and preſerue thee, euen in this thy oppreſſion, and therfore none ſhall be againſt thee to hurt thee. This was much to be ſaid in ſuch a time of calamitie, to ſuch an afflicted perſon. And yet, wee muſt know, that it yeeldeth to vsus the like inſtruction. That euen in great outward troubles, and inward diſquietnes of minde, when a body would thinke that God, and all good men were our aduerſaries; yet in all this is God with vsus whom he hath made a couenant with, yea he loueth and careth for vsus, as deare and precious vntounto him, euen as Chriſt Ieſus the ſonne of his louelove was, though without beautie among men, and as a withered branch, deſpiſed, Eſay 53. Eſay 53. 2.Therefore the ſpouſe in the Canticles ſaith, I am blacke, but comely O ye daughters, Cant. 14.&c. meaning, that the Lord Ieſus her husband eſteemed no whit leſſe of her, neither was ſhe any whit leſſe amiable in his eye, being tanned in the ſunne, then when ſhe was in her perfect beautie. Indeede, the ſinne which cauſeth the Lord to afflict, is odious: but the affliction it ſelfe argueth, that he makes much of vsus, becauſe thereby he would purge out of vsus that which he miſliketh, which affliction when it hath wrought kindly, the Lord can ſoone change our hew, and reſtore our former beautie, as Iobs example witneſſeth.
The reaſon is this, he hauing once teſtified his louelove freely vntounto vsus before, at our effectuall calling, and ſhedding it plentifully into our hearts by the Rom 5. 5.holy Ghoſt, ſaying to our ſoules, I am your ſaluation, and your exceeding great reward, and your God alſufficient: and binding vsus to beleeue the Gen. 17. 1.ſame; he remaineth like himſelfe, and changeth not; and therefore hee requireth that wee ſhould doe the ſame, that is, by faith hold it faſt in our perſwaſion, that he doth ſo And this is more, that the Lord is ſo affected to vsus in the depth of our afflictions, as if we were freed from them all, and were in the middeſt of all proſperitie, which is hardly beleeued for the time while the croſſe oppreſſeth vsus. The vſe of this is, that we labour aboue all things to Iudg. 19.be builded vp in our moſt holy faith, that as by it wee ouercome other difficulties 1. Ioh. 5. 4.in the world, ſo we may thereby ouercome this feare and doubt alſo in the middeſt of our calamities; namely, that in our tribulations wee may not ſhrinke backe from this perſwaſion, that for all theſe, yet God is with vsus, according to that which the holy man ſaith in the Pſalme; yet God is good to Pſal 73. 1.Iſrael, euen to all that are of an vpright heart, though in outward ſhew it might ſeeme otherwiſe. And againe, Out of the deepe [he meant of ſorrowes] he cried Pſal. 130. 1.vntounto the Lord, and he heard, and deliuered him. And to make one point of two, the ſame vſe we ought to make of the other words of the Angell, in calling him valiant man; which was true, becauſe God ſaid it, yet to Gedeon vnlikely to be ſo, and yet he found it afterwards to be ſo. Let it teach vsus, to giuegive God his due, namely, that he be beleeued in al that he ſaith; yea that he ſaith vntounto vsus, though we be not able to ſee nor feele ſo much for the preſent time, as neither Gedeon did. A point worthie to be marked, ſeeing where God giueth Note.good teſtimonie of his fauour, or reuealeth his will in any thing, we are not as readie to ioyne with him, for the moſt part; but doe faint and doubt, becauſe wee ſee not with bodily eyes (as Thomas deſired to doe) the thing promiſed, as we would. And whereas this troubleth many, that the wicked take occaſion hereby to deſpiſe them, when they ſee that God ſeemeth not to regard them, while hee ſo abaſeth them: let ſuch know, that their miſtaking of the matter, & their falſe ſurmiſing of Gods good meaning to them, ſhall not hurt them, if they fixe the eyes of their mindes vponupon this, that God is vnchangeable & conſtant in al his waies, alſo if they can learne to eſteeme of themſelues according to that knowledge and inward feeling they hauehave had of Gods ancient louelove and regard of them in times paſt: and ſo doing, the more their enemies ſcorne them, the neerer the Lord is to them, to take away their reproch.
But this is well and cleerely laid out in the next verſe, therfore I will paſſe Verſ. 13.to that. It appeareth in this verſe, that as neere as God was to Gedeon, yet he ſaw it not: but concludeth, that ſeeing he and the people of the land were vnderunder ſuch oppreſſion by the Midianites, that it could not be well with them, neither could he beleeue that God was with him. And he confirmes himſelfe therein, by a reaſon, though of no ſtrength, thus: God was indeed with our fathers (he ſaith) when he brought them out of Egypt, & wrought many miracles for them, but hee did not ſo now for him and the people, therefore how could he thinke, ſaid he, that God was with him now. This ſpake Gedeon from an heauie heart, euen then when the Angell was ſent directly to him with glad tidings. But let vsus further examine his words, and make our benefit of them. In ſaying, the Lord could not be with him while Doct.the Midianites ſo oppreſſed them, he ſhewed his great weakneſſe, as I ſaid in the former verſe, affirming that he could not beleeue, while hee ſaw it to be ſo with him. Whereby we may ſee, how hardly the faithfull can be perſwaded, that the Lord is with them in affliction, how ready ſoeuer they bee to acknowledge it at other times, which I ſpeake not, as though none were: Dan. 3. 21.for both the three children caſt into the hoat burning furnace, and Daniel into the Lyons denne, hauehave left moſt worthy teſtimonie of their inuincible Dan. 6. 16.faith in their great extremitie, with many other both in ages paſt, and now among vsus. But yet in time of calamitie it muſt needs be ſaid, eſpecially if it belong and ſmartie, that our corrupt nature, which is vntoward, and hardly ſuffereth vsus to giuegive credit to Gods promiſes is furtheſt off then from letting vsus ſee into them, and beleeue them; and the diuell is readieſt to worke vponupon our weakeneſſe at ſuch times, and to take the opportunitie thereof to feare and terrifie vsus; and with his fiery darts of vnbeliefe to pierce our hearts, whereby it is with vsus, too oft and vſually, as it was here with Gedeon, in ſo much that the Lord being euen then neare vsus by his promiſes of comfort and incouragements, which were ſufficient to content and ſtay vsus, yet wee ſee it not, neither thinke it to be ſo, ſeeing we giuegive not our ſelues to ſtudie and Note.conſider aright of this point; which diſtruſt of ours is as vnbeſeeming vsus, as it is burdenſome to vsus. The remedie muſt be that which I ſpake of before, and ſhall hauehave cauſe to mention it againe, and that is, to reſt vponupon the word and promiſe of God, though we ſee not preſent helpe, as Chriſt ſaid to Martha, Did I not tell thee, thou ſhouldest ſee the glorie of God, if thou canst beleeue? As Ioh. 11. 40.for profane perſons who want faith, what wonder, if they meaſure Gods louelove by their preſent flouriſhing, and liuing in eaſe, or wealth, and by their enioying of theſe outward things below, whereby their luſts may bee ſatiſfied? And what wonder, if they iudge it impoſſible, in their deepe diſtreſſes and croſſes, that euer they ſhould wade out of them? As wee reade of that Prince of Iehoram in Iſrael in a fore famine, who hearing the Prophets meſſage from God, touching ſuddaine plentie that ſhould bee on the next day, hee ſaid: Though the Lord would make windowes in Heauen, to powre downe 2. King. 7. 2.corne and prouiſion, yet this thing could not come to paſſe. What was this elſe, but a bold preſuming in great blindeneſſe of that which hee apprehended not, and a very deriſion of the prophecie? And the like we ſee daily in ſuch brutiſh people, who hearing vsus preach this doctrine of depending vponupon Gods all ſufficiencie by faith, euen in affliction, doe little better then ſcoffe at it; GiueGive vsus wealth, ſay they, and corne and wine, giuegive vsus our fill of meate Pſal. 4. 6, 7.and drinke and money, and as for faith, take it whoſe will. Therefore while they proſper, they are as merry as Nabal, but if God giuegive them a ſuddaine blow, it ſtrikes them downe flat: they neither hauehave any armour, to beare off the dint thereof, neither faith to beleeue that it ſhall euer be any better with them but much worſe. Their euill conſcience makes them feare, that this trouble, or that diſgrace, either ſickneſſe or loſſe, will be their vndoing: and as Hamans friends comforted him, ſo they doe themſelues, Heſt. 6. and that Heſter 6. 13.was thus, Thou ſh…lt ſurely fall. And yet in their iollitie who hauehave ſuch apparance of hope, and ſo great confidence in their eſtate, that it ſhall continue, as they? Better and better they looke for, and feare no change till it come. This I ſay of them: but how vnbeſeeming is it, that a beleeuer ſhould hauehave ſo much as a tang of this ſtrong vnbeliefe in his deepe ſorrowes? to wit, not onelyonly to wiſh it were otherwiſe, which in ſome ſort is not to be diſalowed, and eagerly to deſire a redreſſe, and impatiently to beare the burthen which his ſinne hath brought vponupon him: and not to be little vpholden by this, that God is the God of the vallies as well as the mountaines; that his louelove is the ſame 1. King. 20. 23.in trials (if it alſo appeare not greater) which it was in proſperitie. So vnwelcome is the croſſe, and ſo ſweete is the contrarie to the fleſh, that men hauehave no eares to heare of this doctrine, to beleeue that God is neare vntounto them; yea euen with them in the middeſt of their ſufferings. For why? They looke onelyonly at this, in my proſperitie God was with me, but now my eſtate is contrarie, therefore God is abſent. And therefore if any man be at hand to promiſe them health, fauour, or reliefe in their ſickneſſe, trouble or loſſe, they lift vp their eyes, and open their eares to that voice, though it come but from a man like themſelues; but to God who hath promiſed, I will bee with thee, I will not leaue thee, nor forſake thee, they cannot bee comforted with that ſaying, but ſtill looke full heauily, and ſwearing with Gedeon eueryevery one by himſelfe: Oh Lord, if it bee ſo that thou art with me, how then is this euill and trouble come vponupon me? Why? Did I euer promiſe thee (ſaith Ioſhua 1. 5.he) that no aduerſitie ſhould betide thee? Nay rather, hauehave I not ſent this euill, that thou mighteſt therein hauehave good proofe of my louelove toward thee, in vpholding thee therein? And learne this leſſon yet better, that I am yeſterday and to day, and the ſame for euer. And this is the more odious in vsus, Heb 13 8.that we doe not onelyonly faile thus in great and ſearching troubles, ſuch as this was; but euen in ſmaller alſo. And yet, which of vsus will not be ready to accuſe the Iſraelites (if queſtion be moued of them) for calling for their fleſhpots and garlike, being then in the wilderneſſe, which ſometime they had in Egypt, and for their murmuring, when they had no other foode but Manna, and now and then wanted water: thus our tongues are ready to deſcant of others, and our cenſure to goe vponupon them; which ill becommeth thoſe that ſhew by their own fainting vnderunder lighter croſſes, that their ſtrength of faith was but ſmall in the time of their peace, and when they had libertie and freedome from affliction, though then they could ſay aloude with open mouth, that they knew God, beleeued in him, and loued him.
This be noted of vsus, out of Gedeons firſt words in this verſe: but now further, in that he was much occupied in remembring and ſpeaking of his forefathers, counting them happie for the myracles which God wrought for them, in reſpect of himſelfe: hereby wee ſee how common a ſinne it is amongſt vsus, that wee meaſure our happie eſtate to God ward, by our preſent ſenſe, I meane, by Gods bleſſings or corrections vponupon vsus, which who ſeeth Ioh. 14. 2.not how an vnequall a rule it is to goe by?
But further let vsus marke, that Gedeon being much occupied about the prerogatiues Doct. 3.of Iſrael in Egypt, to wit, how God ſhewed himſelfe preſent to them, in working miracles for their deliuerance as if there had been no other thing done there; and as though hee ſhould ſay, they were happie, but wee die here for want of helpe: but marke we (I ſay) this that he ſpeaketh not a word of their bondage, and hardnes, which they ſuffered there, and in the wilderneſſe, as well as that they ſaw his miracles.
And ſo doe we, if we hauehave not the peace, proſperitie, welfare, and other prerogatiues that many of Gods ſeruants hauehave, and namely of our condition: (by meanes thereof (I ſay) we thinke he is preſent with them) but wee account our ſelues to be forgotten and neglected of God in compariſon of Note.them; when yet wee little know of the wants and ſufferings, both outward and inward, of ſuch as we iudge to bee ſo happie, and God to bee preſent with: neither doe wee heare of their ſorrowfull complaints: and thus wee iudge and ſpeake, becauſe of their preſent proſperitie which wee ſee; when yet it is apparent that wee our ſelues are not deſtitute of as great bleſſings ſome other way. A great infirmitie (doubtleſſe) but much greater it is in vsus, who hauehave been taught this oftentimes from many worthie grounds of holy Scripture, that wee ſhould not iudge of our ſelues by others, ſeeing wee know not their eſtate as we doe our owne: for it is certaine, that they hauehave many great calamities vponupon them, euen then when we iudge them to be ſo happie; and there is no doubt, but that they thinke the ſame of vsus, for ſome good things they ſee in vsus, which they want, and are voide of, we hauehave a ſurer rule to goe by, which cannot deceiue vsus, that is this: that the Lord once louing vsus, he doth all things for the beſt to vsus. Which if it be ſo, why forget we that, and meaſure our eſtate by other mens. And becauſe wee hauehave not ſo vſually the comfort of our faith by preſent ſenſe and feeling thereof, when yet we dare not denie but we hauehave other graces of God in vsus, and the workes thereof, which are inſeparable companions to it, wee doe offend much in this, that wee will both bee readie to iudge, and conclude, that we hauehave no faith, and will count other happie in reſpect of our ſelues, when yet we little know their wants, and complainings thereof, as I ſaid before.
Beſides, this ſheweth what an enemie our corrupt nature is vntounto vsus, in the well bearing of our troubles; and how ingenious and skilfull wee are, to catch vp that which ſhould hurt vsus, as children doe in handling kniues, or ſuch like, and turne the edge of eueryevery thing againſt our ſelues, which being with godly dexterity hādled, might ſingularly benefit vsus. But oh, how ſlow and dull are we in taking hold vponupon any ſuch thing as might ſtay vsus, quiet, reſolue, and comfort vsus? Rare is that man who hath learned this wiſedome, and giueth not place to the diuell, from whoſe malice it is, that in temptation all things ſeeme contrarie to that they be, becauſe we looke vponupon them with a troubled eye, and through a falſe glaſſe. The inſtance here vſed by Gedeon, was meete to hauehave confirmed his faith, rather then to hauehave weakned it, if he had taken it aright. For if in their troubles before, and in the wilderneſſe, the outſtretched arme of the Lord ſaued them, euen miraculouſly, whoſe worthineſſe yet was as little as his to deſerue it; then how could it hence follow, that now it was ſhortned, and weakned, ſo that it could not helpe him, but was as preſent to vphold him? Againe, let men learne wiſedom by this, in the vſe of example of other men, that by their ſides we ſtrike not through the Lord by our vnthankfulnes. Salomon ſaith, Say not that their daies paſt are better then the preſent, this is follie. Oh, ſay men, In the daies of Eccleſ. 7. 12.our forefathers, what plentie, what ſeaſonable times, what happie liuing there was? Why ſo? And yet if it had been ſo, they wanted many things of more precious nature, which we enioy: and had their part in all our croſſes too, famines, yet the people were but a few, peſtilence, ſword, and warre eſpecially; alſo ill ſeaſons of droughts and wet: vnleſſe their murmuring be againſt God, for multiplying mankinde, what cauſe hauehave they elſe, to open their mouthes and complaine? But our vnthankfulnes for that wee enioy, cauſeth vsus to be diſcontented in our ſelues for that we want, and to grudge againſt God for partialitie; whereas if we compared things equally, we had ten times more cauſe of preferring the preſent condition, taking it with all hardneſſe, as it is not to be denied but there is much. And ſo oft times doe the poore grudge againſt the wealthy, or rather againſt the Lord who made Prou. 22. 2.both, as Salomon ſaith. One repines that hee is rather a tenant, then a landlord: an vnderling, rather then a commander; a deformed perſon, meanly accounted of, behind hand, diſeaſed, rather then as ſuch or ſuch wealthie men, great, perſonable, honourable, before hand, healthfull. Conſider as wel their wants as their endowments; their grace, as their other parts; the vſe they make, and the account they muſt make of them; their troubles alſo which accompanie them, as well as their gifts and bleſſings: and ſo doing, thou ſhalt ſee, if not thy ſelfe equall, (for God is the author of ſuch inequalitie, and that in great wiſedome) yet at leaſt not ſo much inferiour; to bee ſure, to hauehave cauſe to be more thankfull.
But this (laſtly) is not to be omitted; that Gedeon asking for the miracles Doct. 4.which their fathers told them of, doth ſhew, that their fathers had according to the commandement of God, declared to their children the wonderous workes that he had done for them; and it ſeemeth alſo, that he had learned by them, to know and beleeue them. So muſt parents and children doe, the one ſhould be able to tell, as we ſee in the Pſalme; and the other to hearken Pſal. 78. 1.to the great workes of God, and not to fables: neither ſhould tales of vaine things be told, as of Robinhood; nor the dregges and fragments of popery, and filthie reports of lewd actions, to corrupt their children; as too many parents doe, and hurt them as much this way as any other, who yet are not a few: but they ſhould cauſe them to drinke in the water of life, by good inſtructions. And if parents pleade their owne inabilitie hereto, let them know, that the Miniſtery of the word is a ſpecial meane to ſupply that want: let them be diligent hearers themſelues, and tell the ſame foorth to other, and ſtirre vp their children to doe ſo: that ſo by liniall deſcent, the knowledge and feare of God may be deriued to their poſteritie; that the Lord and his goodneſſe to them, may be had in perpetuall remembrance. And let their children ſee that they minde Gods matters with no leſſe cheerefulnes and regard, then they hauehave done their worldly affaires: and to this let their parents traine them; for elſe they will ſee light at a creuiſe, and wee know it quickly pricks that will be a thorne. As they be framed vp and manured at firſt, ſo their ſoile will after either beare thornes and briars, or good fruites.