Christian Commonwealth, Part 4
The duty of Children
The 18. Chapter.
ANd now concerning the duty of Children whereof I am purpoſed to write, indeede there was neuer more neede to write of theſe thinges then now, and neuer more teaching of them then in theſe dayes, but neuer was inſtructions either by word or writing leſſe regarded of them, then now they be.
And no maruaile, for if God himſelfe hauehave ſpoken and none would heare him, if hee hauehave ſtretched out his hands, & noneEſai. 1. would regard, ſo that hee hath beene forced to cry out vntounto theThe great diſobedience both of men and children in former ages. heauens and the earth, to beare witneſſe of the diſobedience of his Children, if it bee thus with men of vnderſtanding, what will it bee with Children? if it were thus with men thouſands of yeares agoe, what will it be with Children in theſe times? if the Apoſtles of Chriſt were mockedAct. 2. and ſayd to be full of new wine, when they preached the word of God vntounto the people, andLuke. 3. Chriſt himſelfe deſpiſed for teaching them, and ſayd to hauehave a diuell in him, ſurely if grace & feare of God were then fled frō men, what hope ſhall wee hauehave to finde it now in Children, who hauehave beene diſobedient euen frō the beginning, ſcoffers & mockers as Iſmaell of Iſack, Ham of his owne father, and of the ſaints & Prophets of God as of Eliſha?
But bee wiſe ye children and take heed, for neuer ſuch did eſcape the heauie iudgements of God, nor neuer ſhall in time to come, as appeareth by theſe, Iſmaell caſt out of his fathersGen. 21. houſe and fauour, & yet his firſt borne ſonne, Ham alſo not onelyonlyGen. 9. looſing the bleſſing of his father, but both hee and his poſterity became accurſed? the Children which wicked Eliſh 42. of2. King. 2. thē deuour'd by two ſhee Beares, well, I will yet with patience reſt in hope, if Ionas be commandedIonah. 1. to preach againſt Nineue, he may not leaue to doe it, & fly to Tharſus: my maiſter hath giuen mee a talent to vſe, ſhall I lay it vp in a napkin for him, noe I dare not doe ſo, but I ſay ſtill for Sions ſake I will not be ſilent, but with Salomon, exhort you that be childrē Prou. 4.to heare the instruction of a father, and to giuegive eare to learne vnderſtanding, deſpiſe not inſtructions byGood counſell ought not to be refuſed by whomſoeuer giuen. whomſoeuer it be taught, whether from the mouth of a learned diuine, or of a lay man, for gold of it ſelfe is pure in what baſe thing ſoeuer it bee put, and the diamond is ſtil precious, thoughGod the author of all good things proceeding from man. it lye in the dunghill, neither is there any good thing that can proceede from the heart of man, but by the powerfull working of the ſpirit of God: therefore let mee intreate you, (who hearts God ſhall moue with deſire) to ſeeke the knowledge of your duty, to reade theſe few chapters following, wherein I hauehave briefely ſet downe what duty you owe, and muſt performe vntounto your Parents, if you meane to pleaſe God.
And although I write theſe things vntounto children, yet for that the younger ſort, for want of yeares are not able to vnderſtand them, I will leaue theſe ABC trewants, whoſe delight is rather in their play thē learning, and will addreſſe my words to thoſe of more riper yeares, whoſe time ſhould ſhew their knowledg, hauing lōg ſince learned paſt the graces, and now hauehave their rules by roate without booke: what ſaid I, that they are paſt grace by learning too many rules without booke, yea indeed it is true, & therfore I may the bolder ſpeake it though with griefe, for wee ſee many in theſe dayes which ſhould hauehave knowledge by their learning, but doeThe great abuſe which ſchollers make of their learning. ſhew by the leawdneſſe of their liues, that grace hath not yet wrought any good knowledge in them, but that they hauehave learned too many rules without booke as I ſayd, for in Gods booke or any other good booke I am ſure they neuer learned ſuch things.
There be many ſuch ſchollersYouth comming to learne lattine, and yet forget their Primer leſſons. that hauehave learned many lattine bookes ouer, but hauehave quite forgotten their Engliſh Primer leſſons, to beleeue in God, and to keepe his Commandements, & therefore to the end they may become good ſchollers in Gods ſchoole, it ſhall not be amiſſe to put them to conne ouer their old leſſons againe of their obedience vntounto their Parents, Honour thy Exo. 20.Father and thy Mother, that thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee: and it is not amiſſe for others neither, it may doe well for both, let none deſpiſe it, the wiſer ſort I am ſure will not.
It hath pleaſed the Almighty and powrefull God which worketh all in all thinges for a ſecret Iudgement and purpoſe, and for his owne godly will and pleaſure, to prouide and appoynt an howre in the which thy Father and Mother ſhould come together, to the end that thou thorough them mighteſt bee made, he was preſent with thee in the wombe of thy mother, & faſhioned thee, and breathed life into thee, and for the great louelove hee beare vntounto thee, provided milke in thy mothers breaſts againſt thou waſt borne, moōed alſo thy Father and Mother and all other to louelove thee, to pitty thee, and to nouriſh thee, and as hee hath made thee through them, ſo hath he caſt thee vnderunder the power & authority of them, to obey and ſerue them in his ſtead, and to that end hath giuen thee a ſpeciall Commandement euen from his owne mouth, that thou ſhalt Honous thy Father and thy Mother, Exod 20. Leui. 19.which is not onelyonly vnderſtood in the outward ceremoniall actions, as putting off the hatt, or bowing the knee, but thou muſtThe duties which good children ought to performe vntounto their Parents. alſo louelove them with all thy hart, feare and dread them, and waite on their Commandements, and ſeeke their worſhip, wil and profit in all things, and as it were to giuegive euen thy life for the contenting of them, counting them worthy of all honour which thou maiſt procure vntounto them, remembring that thou art their good and poſſeſſion, & that thou oweſt vntounto them euen thy owne ſelfe, & all that thou art able to doe, yea, and more then thou art able to doe.
Vnderſtand alſo that whatſoeuer thou doſt vntounto them, bee itA good note for children to regard. good or euill, thou doſt it euen vntounto God, and when thou doſt diſpleaſe them, thou diſpleaſeſt God, and when they are angry with thee in āy good cauſe, God is angry with thee: neither is it poſſible for thee to come into the fauour of God againe, no though all the Angels of heauen ſhould pray for thee, vntill thou hauehave ſubmitted thy ſelfe vntounto thy Father and Mother againe, and therefore thou muſt be very wary and circumſpect to performe this thy obedience vntounto thy father, with the true zeale of thy hart, thou muſt not onelyonly bee obedient for feare of their diſpleaſure, correction, or puniſhment, neither muſt thou obey them for hope of reward or ſome benefit which thou doeſt expect from them, this hypocritical obedience is not that whichHow farre the duty of children extendeth. God commandeth thee to performe, and to which hee hath gieuen a bleſſing: no, I tell thee God will iudge and puniſh thee, if thou doſt not performe this obedience vntounto them, euen with the ſinceritie of their heart, and in vprightneſſe of conſcience, for he beholdeth the heart, and according to the vprightneſſe of it, God doth iudge.
For he is that powerfull God that created the heauen and the earth of nothing, and that ofGen. 1. the duſt of the earth hath made thee, onelyonly to ſerue and obey him, and hee it is that commandeth thee to this obedience, that thou honour thy father and thyA principall note to be obſerued in God thus placing this Comman dement. mother, and note how hee hath placed this Commandement▪ for it is worthy thy obſeruation.
God hauing giuen vntounto man but Ten Commandements, and but foure of them concerning the duty of man vntounto him, the other Sixe concerning the duty of man vntounto man, and yet as the moſt principall of them all, hee hath put this formeſt of the Sixe, Thou ſhalt honour thy Father and thy Mother, and well knew hee that placed that formeſt in the rancke, that that was the right place for it, & that he that would not obey, reuerence, and honour his owne Parents, would likewiſe neglect and forget his duty vntounto other men, and therefore as an introduction & inſtruction to that which followeth, hee doth begin with this, Honour thy father and thy Mother, that thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee, and ſee the great mercy of our God which to the performers of this his Commandement, vntounto which we are by duty double bound to performe, he is pleaſed to giuegive a bleſſing.
And as hee commandeth itLuke. 2. there, ſo likewiſe in many other places he doth the like, the Prophets and Apoſtles do likewiſe teach the ſame, and therefore if you will be childrē of God your heauenly Father, and liue vnderunder the obedience of his command, without which you cannot but periſh euerlaſtingly, you muſt performe this his will and command in this, that you honour & ob…y your Parents, yea, ye ſhallLeu. 19. eueryevery man feare his Father and Mother ſaith God, & conſider in what manner you ought to performe this, you ſhall ſtand in awfull dread of your Parents, not of the rod or of their correction onelyonly as I ſaid, no, no, ſuch ſervile feare, but conſidering their deare and naturall louelove towards thee, how tenderly, carefully, & louingly they hauehave nouriſhed thee, euen from thy birth, & ſtill do ſeeke thy good by all meanes poſſible. In reſpect of this their great louelove vntounto thee which thouWorthy notes for Children to regard. didſt neuer deſerue, nor neuer canſt ſatisfie, thou oughteſt likewiſe in thy louelove to them againe, to be euen ſo iealous of thy ſelfe, that thou ſhouldeſt feare, leaſt in any thing thou doeſt, thou ſhouldeſt offend ſuch louing Parents, this is that feare which thou oughteſt to performe vntounto them, and which God requireth of thee.
The 19. Chapter.
ANd ſeeing wee are now entred into this duty of Children, which God by his diuine wiſdome hath compiled in theſe few words Honour thy Father and thy Mother, and yet in them hath included the whole ſumme of all duties which ought to be performed vntounto them, which though I hauehave begun to touch in the former Chapter, yet for that I am to ſpeake vntounto Children, it ſhall not be amiſſe if I doe ſomewhat inlarge this matter, for as I ſayd before, it is not to be vnderſtood to be onelyonly in the putting off the cap, or …owing the knee, and yet theſe things muſt bee done becauſe by theſe outward thinges thou doſt ſeeme to giuegive honour vntounto them.
Thou muſt not (as too manyThe reverence which children ought to perform… vntounto their Parents, and how to honour them. proud youthes do in theſe daies) ſtand in the preſence of thy father & mother with thy he…d couered, yea, and that amongſt ſtrangers, and talke vntounto them as boldly & ſaucily, as it were vntounto their fellowes or equales: is this the honouring thy Father & thy Mother? nay, this is to diſhonour them, for in their preſence thou oughteſt not to ſtand but with great reuerence, & if they bee in any company, thy regard ſhould bee more in performing of this duty, in giuing vntounto them the more honour, and becauſe thou canſt not better performe thy honour vntounto them then by obeying them, nor greater diſhonour them, then by being diſobedient vntounto them, though I hauehave touched it before, where I ſayd thou oweſt vntounto them euen all thy whole endeauours, whatſoeuer thou canſt doe, & therefore thou muſt bee ready and willing at all times & in all places to performe their lawfull commandements, at their becke and word to run, goe, and to ſhow all good obedience vntounto them that may bee.
Thou muſt not bee like thatMat. 2…. diſobedient ſonne, whom his father …ad to goe worke in his vineyard, and hee anſwered hee would, but did not: neither muſt thou anſwer as the other did, who ſaid hee would not, yet afterward went.
For thou muſt neyther deludeChildren may not delude their Parents by lying words. thy father with lying words to ſay thou wilt doe his command, and hauehave a wicked intent in thy heart not to performe it, nor thou muſt not dare rebelliouſly to gaine-ſay his word, but if thy father or mother doe commaund thee to doe any thing, thou muſt gladly, hartily, willingly, forthwith euen inſtantly with all diligence performe their iuſt requeſt: and thus ſhalt thou performe thy duty vntounto God, by this thy obedience vntounto thē, for elſe how canſt thou ſay thou performeſtChildren performe not their duty to God, which performe not their obedience vntounto their Parents. thy duty vntounto God, whē thou performeſt not thy duty vntounto thy Parents, whom hee commandeth thee to obey and honour?
Thou muſt remēber alſo, that thou art their good, & therefore of thee, and by thee their good or profit ſhould ariſe, I meane ſo long as thou a…t vnderunder their authority or gou…rment, thy whole endeuors both of body & mind, muſt be altogether bent vntounto the good and profit of thy Parents.Chileren ought to dea…e iuſtly in the vſe of their Parents goods, ſeeking wholy their profit. I ſay it muſt be wholy, thou muſt not keepe any part of it backe, eyther to thine owne vſe, or to vſe vnthriftily to the hurt of thy Parents, for thou oweſt vntounto thē more then thou canſt doe, and therefore a great & heauie iudgment doth hang ouer the heads of thoſe wicked children which doe p…loyne & ſteale away the goods of their Parents though neuer ſo priuately▪ either to giuegive vntounto thoſe whō they doe affect, or otherwiſe to conſume or waſt after their owne willes.
And euen ſo it is with thoſeThe hurt which many leaud children doe vntounto, their Parents in not dealing iuſtly with them. whō their parents do appoint vntounto any lawfull calling labour or buſines, if they negligētly, leawdle, or idely doe ſpend that time, which they ought to employ only in thoſe affaires: doe they not rob their Parents of that profit which ſhould ariſe vntounto their parents by their induſtry in that time, and ſo by their lewdneſſe doe great hurt both vntounto their Parents & themſelues, yea ſurely, and how great an offence this is wherein they thus diſobey and diſhonour their Parents, and conſequently God himſelfe iudge you.
And as it is thus by theſe in waſting & conſuming the goodsSchollers abuſing their time in learning, wrong their Prents in doing it. of their Parents, euen ſo it is with them which waſt and conſume that moſt precious time which they ought to ſpend in ſchooles, to the attaining of their learning, by play and idleneſſe, thereby waſting the profits of their Parents labours, nay, I would it were not thus with thoſe, whoſe learning ſhould teach them to make better vſe of their time then they doe, both diſhonoring God and their Parents.
The 20. Chapter.
BVt I will not ſtand vponupon amplification of words, they are plaine enough thē ſelues, & the whole Booke of God is full of inſtructions to this end, & the ſoule that deſireth knowledge will ſeeke it there, and amongſt others very much hath Salomon laboured to teach this duty of obedience vntounto Children, as appeareth in many places of his Bookes, as in the firſt of Pro. My Son heare thy Fathers Pro. 1.inſtructions, and forſake not thy Mothers teaching… and againe, heare ye children the inſtruction if Pro. 4.a Father, and giuegive eare to learne vnderſtanding, for I doe giuegive you a good doctrine, therefore forſake not my law, for I was my fathers ſonne, tender and deare in the ſight of my mother, when hee taught me and ſayd vntounto me, let thy heart hold faſt my words & keepe my Commandement and thou ſhalt liue: And againe, Heare my Sonne, keepe thy Father Pro. 6.Commandements, and forſake … thy Mothers inſtructions, bind them alwaies vponupon thine heart, and tie them about thy necke, it ſhall leade thee when thou walkeſt, watch this when thou ſleepeſt, and when thou wakeſt, it ſhall talke with thee, … for the Cōmandement is a lanthoras, and inſtruction a light, and correction for inſtruction is the way of life: And againe, A foole deſpiſeth his Pro. 13.Fathers inſtructions, but he that regardeth correction is wiſe: Againe, A wiſe Sonne maketh a glad Father, but a fooliſh ſonne is a heauineſſe to his Mother: Againe, a wiſe ſonne will obey the inſtruction of his Father, but a ſcorner will heare no rebuke.
But before I paſſe further, I muſt not ſo lightly paſſe ouerA parlſe ſuppoſition which children hauehave of their Parents, correcting them. ſome of Salomons words heere ſpokē, for I know there be many fooliſh Children in theſe dayes, which when their Parents reproue or correct them for their follies or faults committed, doe eyther ſuppoſe it to bee more of ſpleene and anger towards them then otherwiſe, or that they doe not beare that naturall louelove towards them which they ſhould doe, but let not ſuch idle & leawd thoughts poſſeſſe either thy heart or minde, but remember that he telleth thee that correction for inſtructions are the way of life, and that he that regardeth the correction of his Father, is wiſe: well, I will goe on with Salomons words (for ſayth hee:)
He that deſtroyeth his Father or Pro. 19.chaſeth away his mother, is a leawd and a ſhamefull child: Againe, he Pro. 20.that curſeth his father or his mother, his light ſhall bee put out in obſcure darkeneſſe: Againe, Obey thy Father Pro. 23.that begot thee, and deſpiſe … thy mother when ſhee is old: againe, he that robbeth his Father and ſayth Pro. 25.it is no tranſgreſſion, is the comp… nion of a man that deſtroyeth: Againe, the eye that mocketh his Father Pro. 30.and deſpiſeth the inſtructions if his Mother, let the Rauens of the valley plucke it out, and the young Eagles eate it.
And thus you ſee how Salomon hath laboured to expreſſe this duty of Children in their obedience vntounto their Parents, and all good children hauehave applyed thēſelues to performe the ſame, euen from the beginning, yea, & long before the law was giuen by God to that end, the very law of nature thorough grace did worke this obedience in them, as appeareth by that rare obedience of Iſack vntounto his Father, yeelding himſelfe euen to become a ſacrificeGen. 42. vntounto the hand of his Father: Iacob likewiſe obeying the commandGen. 27. of his Mother, obtayned the bleſſing thereby.
But Ioſephs: dutifull obedienceGen. 47. vntounto his Father, and cheriſhing of him and his in his old age, ſheweth vntounto all good children, a perfect patterne of all dutifull obedience: and the obedience of the daughter of Iephtah, likewiſe may not be forgotten, who although her father had vowed to offer vntounto the Lord in ſacrifice, and that ſhee had liberty atIudg. 11. her pleaſure, two whole monet… to go vntounto the mountaines to bewaileExamples of the obedience and duty of good children vntounto their Parents. her virginity, yet at the prefixed time, ſhee willingly came and offered her ſelfe vntounto the hands of her father, to performe his vow with her.
Solomon alſo when his mother came to ſpeake with him, ſo1. King. 2. ſoone as he ſaw her; hee left his kingly ſeat and caine to meete her, and reuerently bowed himſelfe vntounto her, and cauſed her to bee placed on his right hand as he ſate on the throne of his kingdome: many ſuch examples there bee beſides theſe, as T…b… and others, all teaching this dutyTob. 14. vntounto children.
And as God hath commanded it thus to be done, ſee how highly hee liketh of thoſe which doe performe it, the ſtone of the …bites doth plainelyIer. 35. ſhew where the Prophet Ieremiah from the mouth of God himſelfe pronounceth theſe wore's vntounto them, T… Lord of hoaſts the God of … cauſe you obeyed the … of Ionada… your Father … How God bleſſeth thoſe childrē which obey their Parents.kept all his pre…pts, … … ding vntounto all that hee hath commanded you, therefore thus ſayth the Lord of heaſt…, the God of Iſrael, Ionadab the ſon of Recha… ſhall not want a man to ſtand before m… for euer: what neede I now …o cite more places of Scripture to this end, our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfeLuk. 2. became a patterne vntounto you in this poynt, for hee became obedient vntounto his earthly Parents: If theſe things will not ſuffice, then wil no…e.
The 21. Chapter.
BVt I muſt ye proceede a little further in this poyn… of obedience, f… there bee many which when they are come to ſome yeares as they thinke of diſcretion, that then will bee no longer vnderunder the obedience of their Parents, but to diſpoſe of themſelues at their owne pleaſure, nay, I would to Go… that ſome of them, did not th… oppoſe themſelues againſt their Parents: well; they finde th… word of God doth teach them otherwiſe, for thou muſt not then ſo diſpoſe of thy ſelfe: canſt thou bee content to giuegive them leaue to nouriſh cheriſh, and to maintayne thee both in ſickneſſe and health all the time of thy youth, and wilt thou now …e like a wilde and vnruly colt, that caſts off his bridle and ſhewes his maſter his foure ſhooes.
If thou didſt want the vſe of thy limbes, or thy ſight, or the vſe of thy ſpeech, thou caſt then bee content to bee gouerned by them, euen vntill thy olde age or dying day, and wilt thou enioying theſe and all other bleſſings from Almighty God, euen to the full, when thou comeſt to thoſe yeares wherein thy wiſedomeChildren ſhould take regard of the experimented wiſe counſailes of their aged Parents. ſhould ſhew it ſelfe like a flouriſhing oliue tree, yeelding obedience and honour vntounto thy Parents, thereby comforting & ioying their aged yeares: then, the… I ſay to caſt them off, yea & that good alſo which might come to thee by that wiſe & prudēt counſaile which they by long experience hauehave gained, & might to thee, ſure proue an anchor hold of exceeding much good.
And this I ſpeake alſo in reproofe,Children ought to be ruled by their Parents in caſe of their marriage yea, to the reproach of thoſe giddy headded wantons of our time, which will not giuegive their Parents leaue to make their choyſe of marriage for them, nor bee ruled by them in their choyſe: whereupon as a iuſt plague vntounto them, it often commeth to paſſe, that not hauing their Parents goodwill in their choyſe, they not onelyonly loſe that which is an vnualuable loſſe, I meane the bleſſing of their Parents, which though children regard not in theſe dayes, yet in times paſt it was of ſuch reuerent regard among Gods children, that their fathers bleſſing was vntounto them as precious as theirWhat an account good children made in times paſt, of the bleſſing of their Parents. granfathers inheritance, whereby thorough want of the fathers louelove, & this bleſſing, a iuſt plague and puniſhment from God, for ſo high an offence, it is commonly ſeene beggery followeth, I ſpeake not this vnadviſedly as of ſuppoſition; for God is witneſſe with me that I ſpeake the truth, I hauehave ſeene it with mine eyes to my griefe of heart.
Oh ſinne of diſobedience, euen in the higheſt degree of nature, when a ſonne or daughter ſhall preſume in priuate, to take vntounto themſelues the eſtate of mariage without the conſent of Parents, ought not the father to know? yea, and to make choyſe what fleſh ſhould be ioyned vntounto his owne, and what fruit ſhould be grafted into his owne ſtocke, and to ſee that it ſhould bee for the good and honor thereof, yes ſurely, and thoſe which be good and gracious Children, will giuegive their Parents the preheminence thereof, and alſo bee ruled by them in theſe things, but there be ſome which can bee content to bee ruled by their Parents in caſe of marriage, for the benefit of their helpe which may ariſe thereby, but they are not willing to ſtay the time which their Parents ſhall thinke fit for them.
But this did not Iſacke, for heeGen. 25. would not preſume to make anyGood childrē hauehave alwaies had regard to leaue the choyſe of their marriage to thire Parents. choyſe, but ſtayd his Fathers pleaſure, although it were till he was Forty yeares of age: And Iacob, whē his father did appoint him, then went to the place where he did appoynt him, but not before: where are thoſe that doe follow the ſteps of theſe holy and choſen children of God, that I many extoll them to the world, alas they are not in theſe dayes to be found.
And yet the very heathen which knew not God nor his lawes, yet the very light of nature taught this duty vntounto them, not to make their choyſe of mariageGen. 34. without the cōſent of their Parents, for thus did Shechem the ſonne of Hamore, ſue vntounto his Father for his good will to marry with Dinah the daughter of Iacob, & the ſervants of God had alwaies a ſpeciall regard hereunto, Samſpon alſo would not preſumeIudg. 14. to marry without the conſent of his father, no, although he liked the woman exceeding well.
And as the naturall Parents hauehave this authority ouer their Children, ſo doth it likewiſe belong vntounto thoſe which be gardians & foſter fathers as wee terme them, which hauehave the bringing vp of youth, whether they be of kindred or otherwiſe, as wee ſee Ruth was obedient vntounto her ſtepRut. 1. mother, and vponupon theſe and ſuch like cauſes is our law grounded, which permits not a ward, being vnderunder the gouernement of his gardian to marry without his conſent.
The 22. Chapter.
ANd as I hauehave labored to expreſſe this duty of obedience vntounto children, and yet but briefely run it ouer in reſpect of that which, might bee ſpoken herein, ſo it is needefull in ſome ſort to ſhew the limitation thereof, for it is not generall, but is included within her bounds, I did a little touch it before when I ſaid it conſiſted in all good and lawfull thinges, and indeed it goeth no farther, for if thy father or mother do command thee to do vnlawfullIn what caſes Children may refuſe the command of their Parents. thinges, as to commit Idolatry, to worſhip God contrary to his word, thou muſt not obey them in theſe thinges, or if thy father or mother doe command thee to commit treaſon againſt the King, Prince or Magiſtrate whom he hath ſet ouer thee to gouerne thee, or felloniouſly to murther any, or to ſteale, perloyne, or defraud any man of his right, thou muſt not obey them in any ſuch thinges, for as God hath cōmanded thee to obey them in goodneſſe, ſo hath he forbidden thee to yeeld obedience vntounto them in euill, theChildren ought to ſhun the wickednes of their Parents. Children that follow the wickedneſſe of their Parents, God himſelfe will puninſh them, wee hauehave proofe therof in diuers places of the ſcripture, but the Prophet Ezekiell expreſſeth it to the full, I pray you reade the chapters, for the doctrine therein is worthy of your greateſt regard, you ſhall there finde that the Lord ſayth:
Behold all ſoules are mine, both of Eze. 18.the Father & of the Sonne, the ſame ſoule that ſinneth it ſhall dye, but if the ſonne ſeeing the wickedneſſe of his Father, feareth, and doth not commit ſuch thinges, ſurely he ſhall line ſayth the Lord: ſo that thus you ſee plainely that the Children may refuſe to bee obedient vntounto any wicked commande, eyther of their Father or mother: And the Apoſtle Peeter teacheth vsus byAct. 4. his example rather to obey God then man, and Daniell doth theDan. 6. ſame: And as God hath commanded thee to performe this obedience vntounto thy Parents, and hath appoynted thee in what manner & nature to do the ſame, and granted his bleſſing vntounto the performers thereof, euen ſo toChildren which are ſtubborne and diſobedient vntounto their Parents, God himſelfe will puniſh. the ſtubborne & rebellious children, which will take no regard of this his will to walke in the obedience thereof, ſuch diſobedient ones doth he not leaue vnpuniſhed, nor neuer did, but ether by the ſeueritie of their Parents, or if that gentle and naturall puniſhment will not ſerue, then giueth hee them vp into the hands of temperall Maieſtrates, ſo publikely to puniſh them, as I expreſſed before in the duty of Parents, but if both theſe in the execution of iuſtice vponupon ſo high an offence, be ſlacke in puniſhing them, then he himſelfe doth take the cauſe in hand, yea, & he himſelfe doth ſeuerely puniſh it, as we ſee by his iuſtice ſhewed vponupon the wicked ſonnes of Elye, whom hee ſlew both in1. Sam. 4. one day by vntimely and ſudden death: and of that rebellious ſon of Dauid, Abſolon whō the Lord2. Sam. 18. himſelfe cauſed to be hanged on a tree by his owne hayre, vntill his enemies came vponupon him and ſlew him, many ſuch examples there bee to this end, but theſe may ſuffice.Children ought not to forſake their Parents either in pouerty or age, but to relieue and comfort them euen till death.
And take heed that thou grow not weary of this thy duty, but that with all louelove thou doe continue this thy obedience vntounto them, euen to their dying day, and that thou diſpiſe them not either in age or pouerty, for hee that diſpiſeth Father or Mother God will puniſh, but vſe them with all honour as Salomon did his Mother, and cheriſh and noriſh them in age as Ioſeph did: remember1. King. 2. that Ruth would notRuth. 1. forſake her Mother in law, and what ſhee gained by her labour, ſhe brought home to relieue her aged mother with.
And now with Ioſhua I hauehaveIoſhu. 24 ſet before you the waies of the the Lord, and I beſeech him to giuegive vsus grace to walke in the obedience thereof, I had thought likewiſe to hauehave ſet before you, ſome of the abuſes of theſe our times, wherein the wicked ones ſo much forgetting their duty to God and their Parents, that not regarding their owne ſhame in the world, no, nor the feare of Gods iudgements to come, doe dayly diſturbe, trouble, nay miſvſe & abuſe their owne Parents, but leaſt I ſhould in expreſſing ſuch thinges giuegive way to that which I ought rather to ſuppreſſe, I will rather bury theſe thinges in mine own breaſt with griefe in ſilecce: The Diuell hath two many actors on the ſtage of this world that play theſe parts daily too publike, the God of heauen and earth keepe your harts and conſciences free from ſuch thinges, & keepe you in the obedience of his holy Commadements.
Amen.