Inquiry for a Suitable Return for Continued Life In and After Time of Plague, Part 4

Inquiry for a Suitable Return for Continued Life In and After Time of Plague · Part 4

p. 161The Reader is deſired to make the following Direction the Fourth.DIRECTION III.

HAth God ſpared you in time of Peſtilence, then, if you would Live in ſome meaſure anſwerable to ſo great a Mercy, Be Eminent in your place and Relation.Be eminenth exemplary in the Place: Capacity, Calling, Station, or Relation wherein God hath ſet you. Every Rela…ion hath ſome Duties peculiar to that Relation; and every Calling and Capacity, wherein Divine Providence hath pl…ced you, hath ſomething wherein you may be peculiarly eminent: and, who knowes but God hath preſerved you for this end, that you may excell in the Capacity and Condition God hath called you unto: if your Condition be a Condition of Proſperity, be eminent in Humility, Self-denial, and Charity; if of Adverſity, be eminent in Submiſſion and Patience, in undergoing the Will of God.

But, that I may ſpeak more Comprehenſively and Diſtinctly, I ſhall conſider, that every one that is left alive (after this ſore Judgment) ſtands in one or more of theſe following Capacities or Conditions; in every one of which every Man (whom God hath ſpared) ſhould now labour to be eminently exemplary: This Capcity is, either

p. 162Political

Magiſtrates, or

Subjects.

Eccleſiaſtical.

Pastors,

Flock.

Oeconomical.

Conjugal

Husband,

Wife.

Parental, or Filial.

Parents,

Children.

Deſpotical, or Servile.

Masters,

Servants.

One of theſe every Perſon is, that is preſerved from the Grave: and, if every one would now endeavour in good earneſt to do ſomething ſingular (but ſingularly good) for God, in his particular Relation, to do the Duty which God peculiarly calls for, and excell therein, that you failed in, and came ſhort of before; this would be a good Improvement of the Mercy, and this would be in ſome meaſure to walk up unto it.

SECTION I.

ILEt us conſider the Perſons whom God hath in mercy ſpared from the Grave, in their Political c…ci…y, and ſuch are, either,

1. Magiſtrates and Governours for over us by God: Le…e, with humility and reverence, minde you of your duty, and tell you, That God expecteth, and requireth, that ſince he hath intruſted you with Authority from himſelf, and given you Life, and preſerved you from the Grave p. 163in the day of his ſore Viſitation in the City, that, though your Place and Office did oblige you to a leſs retired Life then many others, yet God hath kept you from Death by Infectious Diſeaſes: Now, ſhould you not inquire what you ſhould do for God? and, how you may improve your time and Talent for his Honour? ſhould not you puniſh Sin (that is ſo indeed) and Countenanc… Holineſs and Religion (that is ſo indeed?) ſhould not you be zealous for God, in puniſhing of open-Prophaneneſs? and the horrid Oathes, that have cried aloud in the eares of God, Men prophanely Swearing by the Sacred Name of God; and Sabbath-bre…king, and violation of the Holy Day of God? did not Nehemiah do ſo? Nehem. 13.15. In thoſe dayes ſaw I in Judah ſome treading wine-preſſes on the Sabbath, and bringing in ſheaves, and lading Aſſes, as alſo wine, grapes and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jeruſalem on the Sabbath day: and I teſtified againſt them in the day wherein they ſold Victuals. Verſ. 1 6. There dwelt Men of Tire alſo therein, which brought fiſh, and all manner of Ware, and ſold on the Sabbath (as many did Fruit openly in ſome places of the Streets, and in Fields about London) unto the children of Judah, and in Jeruſalem. Verſ. 17. Then I contended with the Nobles of Judah, and ſaid unto them, what evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath day? Ver. 18. Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this City? yet ye bring more wrath upon Iſrael by profaning the Sabbath. Verſ. 19. And it came to paſs p. 164when the Gates of Jeruſalem began to be dark, before the Sabbath. I commanded the Gates ſhould be ſhut, and charged, that they ſhould not be opened till after the Sabbath: and ſome of my ſervants ſet I at the Gates, that there ſhould be no Burden brought in upon the Sabbath day. Verſ. 20. So the Merchants and ſellers of all kind of Ware lodged without Jeruſalem once or twice. Verſ. 21. Then I teſtified againſt them, and ſaid unto them, Why lodge ye about the Wall? if ye do ſo again, I will lay hands on you; from that time …orth came they no more on the Sabbath. This Example is worthy your Imition; and, oh how much good may you do, and how much Sin, and Diſhonour to God thereby might you preven…, if you do indeed obey the Laws of God, and Execute the good Laws of this Kingdom, in that Caſe made and provided? Should not you diſcourage Drunkeneſs, and Houſes notorious for uncleanneſs? That Taverns and Ale-… be not ſo much frequented? ſhould you not be a Terror unto the Evil? why Drunkenneſs and prophane Swearings, and Brothel-houſes are Evil: indeed, for which a Land is made to Mourn: and, ſhould not you be a praiſe to them tha… do well? Rom. 13.3. Are not you Gods Miniſters for good to them that are good; and revengers, to execute wrath upon him that doth evil? and, can you w…k worthy of ſo great preſervation from the Plague, if you do not cut down Sin, and incourage Godlineſs?

p. 165SECTION II.

2. Subjects Duties to Magistrates.SUbjects, and People Governed: Many and ſtrickt are the Pre…epts and Injunctions of God upon People to their Magiſtrates; and, no leſs then damnation is threatned, by God himſelf, to ſuch as oppoſe themſelves againſt their Magiſtrates, Rom. 13.1. Let every Soul be ſubject to the Higher Powers, for there is no Power but of God; the Powers that be are ordained of God. Verſ. 2. Whoſoever therefo…e reſiſteth the Power, reſiſteth the Ordinance of God; and, they that reſiſt ſhall receive to themſelves damnation. Verſ. 5. Wherefore ye muſt needs be ſubject, not only for Wrath, but alſo for Conſcience ſake. True Religion we ſee (from this Scripture) doth oblige People and Subject, in Duty and Obedience, to their Magiſtrates; and none will more Conſcientiouſly obey, than thoſe that are moſt Religious: Obedience to Magiſtrates (from this place) is required, becauſe (1.) They are Ordained of God. (2.) They that reſiſt them, reſiſt an Ordinance of God. (3.) Such as do ſo, receive to themſelves damnation. (4.) They are (appointed of God) to be a terror to the evil, not to the good. (5.) Conſcience is bound ſo to do. (6.) There is neceſſity we ſhould obey; We muſt obey, not only for Wrath, but Conſcience ſake: Some might obey for favour, and ſome for fear, but true Religion teacheth Men to be obedient to Magiſtrates from Principles of Conſcience. Strictneſs of Holineſs is reproached when it is aſſerted p. 166to make Men diſobedient: Once more, 1 Pet. 2.13. Submit your ſelves to every Ordinance of Man, for the Lords ſake; whether it be to the King, as ſupreme. Verſ. 14. Or unto Governours that are ſent by Him, for the puniſhment of evil doers, and for the praiſe of them that do well. Verſ. 15. For ſo is the will of God, you ſhould put to ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh Men. Verſ. 17. Honour all Men. Religion doth not teach us to deny civil Reſpects to men: Love the Brother-hood, fear God, honour the King. Religion preſſes and obliges Subjects in duty to their Magiſtrate in theſe particulars.

1. Obedience to their Laws and Commandments, Tit. 3.1. for their Laws and Commands are to be according to the Laws and Commands of God.

2. Honour to their Perſons, Rom. 13.7. for they are Gods Vice oys, therefore called Gods, Pſal. 82.6. For I have ſaid ye are Gods, — but ye ſhall dye like men.

3. Loyalty, whereby we are bound to the uttermoſt of our power, to maintain their Prerogatives, and preſerve their Perſons.

4. Prayer on their behalf; if God be angry with them we muſt intercede for them, if they want any Bleſſings, we muſt make ſupplication for them; if they lye under evil, we muſt deprecate thoſe evils; if they find mercy from God, we muſt give thanks for them; all this is in 1 Tim. 2.1, 2.

5. Tribute, Rom. 13.7. For, for this cauſe pay you tribute alſo, for they are Gods Miniſters, attending continually upon this very thing.

p. 1676. Subjection to their Penalties, Rom. 13.4, 5.

This is to live in this capacity, to be peaceable, and rather take a thouſand wrongs, than offer one; and to live in that obedience as becomes the Profeſſours of the Goſpel, that all may ſee that thoſe that are obedient unto God, dare not be diſobedient unto thoſe to whom, and wherein, God commands them to yield obedience.

SECT. III.

IISUch as are ſpared from death by the Plague may be conſidered in their relation as Paſtors and People; and the Protection of God over ſuch, ſhould engage them to diſcharge their mutual duties, as thoſe that would teſtifie their thankfulneſs to God for continuing them in that Relation. God hath removed by the Plague ſome …iniſters that the People ſhall never hear Preach more, and God hath taken ſome from every Congregation, of the People, to whom the ſurviving Miniſters ſhall never offer Chriſt and Peace unto any more, who are now out of the reach of their reproofs, and exhortations: therefore ſuch Miniſters as yet have time to preach unto the People, ſhould improve that little time that God hath given them in ſo doing; and the People that yet have time to hear their Miniſters, ſhould diligently do it, and improve their Miniſtry for the ſaving of their ſouls. But more particularly.

p. 168Firſt, Miniſters that have eſcaped the Plague ſhould be eminently exemplary in a diligent performance of every work that God expecteth at their hands.

I. Ministers ſhould be more in Studying.As in improving time, in giving themſelves more unto ſerious, cloſer ſtudying, that they may be more and more able for their Maſters work, and more and more eminent in converting and building up the Elect of God; to be more in their Studies, than in the Streets; more at their Books, than at their pleaſures; at this they ſhould be early and l…te, according to Saint Pauls charge to Timothy, 1 Tim. 4.13. Till I come give attendance to reading. Ver. 14. Meditate upon theſe things, give thy ſelf wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. Such as are to work for God and the ſaving of ſouls ſhould be given to Study and Medi…ation, that they may be more skilful and ſucceſsful in their work; they ſhould be as much in their Studies, as any Worldling in his Shop; Eſpecially now ſuch ſhould ſtudy more (1.) the Word of God, which is to be the matter of their Preaching. Such are more apt to ſtudy the Writings of Men, more than the Word of God. (2.) Their own hearts, and the dealings of God with their own ſouls, that they may firſt experience the ſweetneſs, and power, and efficacy of thoſe truths they are to commend unto the People. (3.) The ſtare of their Flock, and the condition of their People, who of them need to be reproved, who of them need to be comfortes, and who of them be in doubts, and how they may by their Preaching be reſolved. p. 169They ſhould ſtudy their People more, that they may preach on ſuch ſubjects, not that are eaſieſt unto themſelves to ſpeak un…o, but that are moſt ſutable to their people, and ſo moſt likely to be moſt profitable to them.

SECT. IV.

IIPraying.SUch ſhould be more in improving time in frequent, fervent Prayer. They ſhould pray, (1.) That God would direct their thoughts to the choice of that ſubject which might be moſt uſeful to, and is moſt neceſſary for their peoples ſouls. (2.) That God would aſſiſt them in their Meditations upon that ſubject, that they may ſpeak from thence thoſe things that may be moſt convincing, piercing, that they may meet with the Sins and Doubts of thoſe they are to Preach unto. (3.) That God would give them ſucceſs in their Labours. (4.) That God would give them a Door of Utterance, and aſſiſt them in the delivering of their Meſſage (which they have from God) unto the People: St. Paul was much in Praying for the Churches, Epheſ. 3.14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Phil. 1.4. Col. 1.3.9, 10, 11. 1 Theſ. 1, 2. 2 Theſ. 1.11, 12. And in bleſſing God for the Truth, and growth of Grace in the hearts of the People; as matter of his joy, to ſee them holy, and eminent in holineſs; to ſee them embrace the Goſpel, and walk according to it, 1 Cor. 1.4, 5, 7. Phil. 1.3, 4, 5. Col. 1.3, 4, 5. p. 1701 Theſ. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. And looked upon ſuch as his Crown and Joy, 1 Theſ. 2.19, 20.

SECTION V.

IIIPreaching.SUch ſhould improve the time (that God hath given them from the Grave) in right Preaching of the Word, and Adminiſtration of the Sacraments unto the People: God hath not ſpared them to Eate and Drink, and Sleep, and live at Eaſe; but to be painful in their Work. God hath laid (in this time) ſome of his Miniſters in the Duſt; and, they are ſilent in the Grave, whileſt others have opportunity to ſpeak for God, in Preaching to the People: and, God doth expreſly charge them ſo to do, 2 Tim. 4.1. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom. Verſ. 2. Preach the Word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-ſuffering and Doctrine: and, there is a woe unto them, if they do not Preach the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9.16. and are deſcribed to be ſuch as are apt (as well as able) to Teach, 1 Tim. 3.2. And if they do forbear to warn Men of their ſins, thoſe Men ſhall die, but God will require their blood at their hands, Ezek. 3.18. And though God (in Judgment to a People) may make his Miniſters dumb, and cauſe their Tongues to cleave to the roofe of their mouthes, that they ſhould not be Reprovers to them, becauſe of their ſin, Ezek. 3.26. Yet, ſuch p. 171as are dumb, through Ignorance, that they cannot, or through Negligence, that they will not ſpeak to Men to ſave their Soules, is a great charge of God againſt them, Iſa. 56.10. His Watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant, they are all dumb Dogs, they cannot bark; ſleeping, lying down, loving to ſlumber. Verſ. 11. Yea, they are greedy Dogs, which can never have enough: and they are Shepherds that cannot underſtand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain from his quarter. Verſ. 12. Come ye, ſay they, I will fetch Wine, and we will fill our ſelves with ſtrong Drink; and to morrow ſhall be as this day, and much more abundant. And God ſharply reproveth ſuch for this neglect, Ezek. 34.2. Son of Man, Propheſy againſt the Shepherds of Iſrael, Propheſy, and ſay unto them, Thus ſaith the Lord God unto the Shepherds, Woe be to the Shepherds of Iſrael, that do feed themſelves, ſhould not the Shepherds feed the Flock? Verſ. 3. Ye eate the Fat, and ye cloath you with the Wool; ye kill them that are fed, but ye feed not the Flock. Verſ. 4. The Diſeaſed have ye not ſtreng…hened, neither have ye healed that which was ſick; neither have ye bound up that which was broken; neither have ye brought again that which was driven away neither have you ſought that which was l…ſt; but with force and cruelty have ye ruled them: Verſ. 18. Seemeth it a ſmall thing to you to have eaten up the good pasture, but you muſt tread down with your feet the reſidue of your paſtures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye muſt foule the reſidue with your feet? Verſ. 19. And, as for my flock, they eat that which ye have troden with your feet, and p. 172they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.

Miniſters diligence in Preaching the Word (which, ſuch ſhould be awakened to, much more by Gods late Providence) is pointed at by God, in thoſe ſeveral Names, and Appellations; with which, they, and their Work, is Metaphorically ſet forth, as they are,

10 Appellations, ſhewing the work of Ministers.1. Labourers. Mat. 9.38. Therefore muſt not loyter, but ſhould work as day-labourers.

2. Builders, 1 Cor. 3.10. Muſt repair Gods Buildings.

3. Husbandmen, 1 Cor. 3.9. Muſt Plow up the fallow ground, that they ſow not among thornes: they are Gods harveſt-Men, and that is hard work.

4. Watchmen, Ezek. 33.7. Muſt ſee the danger, and indure the cold, and give warning.

5. Stewards, 1 Cor. 4.1, 2. Muſt deal to every one their portion.

6. Fathers, 1 Cor. 4.15. 1 Theſ. 2.11. In begeting, and bringing up Spiritual Children for God.

7. Guides, Rom. 2.19. Muſt direct loſt Men into their way.

8. Nurſes, 1 Theſ. 2.7. Muſt ſeed the Babes in Chriſt.

9. Phyſitians, Jer. 13.12, 13. Muſt heale the Spiritual Sickneſs of Mens Soules.

10. Embaſſadours, 2 Cor. 5.20. Muſt Parley with Sinners, to make Peace betwixt God and them.

p. 173After ſuch a Providence as this, thoſe in this Office ſhould labour to be more in the moſt effectuall manner of Preaching; as,

1. In Preaching with more ſelf-denial; not ſeeking themſelves, nor their own Applauſe, but more the Glory of God, and the good of Soules: 2 Cor. 12.14. For, I ſeek not yours, but you. 1 Tim. 3.3. Not greedy of filthy lucre. 1 Theſ. 2.5. For, neither at any time uſed we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetouſneſs, God is witneſs.

2. With more plainneſs to the capacity of the People; Not with enticing words of Mans Wiſdom, but in demonſtration of the ſpirit, and of power, 1 Cor. 2.4. Leſt ſuch ſeem to Preach themſelves, and not Chriſt; and to ſpeak one word to ſhew the excellency of Chriſt, and ten to ſhew the excellency of their own Parts.

3. With more experience of the things they Preach upon their own hearts.

4. More particularly, coming down to the particular caſes of the Peoples Soules: Dolus latet in univerſalibus.

5. More compaſsionately; if poſſible, ſhewing the greateſt deſire after the Soules of them they Preach unto: When you ſtand in your Pulpit, remember, many of them you Preached to the other day are now in their graves, and are entred into Eternity; and, thoſe that are before you muſt ſhortly follow after▪ you have not long to Preach unto them; thoſe that are now alive before you muſt ſhortly die, and be damned or ſaved; be received to Glory, or thruſt down to p. 174Miſery: ſuch actu…l believing thoughts as theſe woul… move great compaſſion in Miniſters hearts unto their People.

6. More Livelily; as thoſe that believe the things themſelves which they Preach unto others; remember you are Preaching to Men that muſt ſho…ly die, and yet eternally Live: and, for ought you know, if you do not prev…il with them by this Sermon, they may periſh for ever: and, will you be luke-warm in ſuch a caſe of ſo great importance?

7. What is moſt neceſſary to the ſalvation of their Soules: Preſs more the miſery of Man by Nature; the neceſſity of ſeeing the evil; and be ſenſible of the burden of their Sin; the neceſſity of Chriſt; of Regeneration; of Holineſs of heart and Life; of Juſtification by Faith in the blood of Chriſt; of Judgment to come; of the happineſs of Heaven; of the torments of Hell.

SECTION VI.

IVLiving exemplarily.MIniſters, whom God hath ſpared from the Grave, in th… time of great Morrality, ſhould improve this Mercy in the manner of their holy Converſation; i… … Mens Lives ſhould be the Application of their Doctrine, ſhould preſs to Holineſs, and live ſho…tly; preſs the People to Mortification of Sin, and Self-denial, and be Examples to the People in this, elſe the People will not believe that they think what they ſay, if they do not in ſome meaſure Live as they ſay: Drunkards will not believe that that Miniſter is p. 175in good earneſt, in telling them, that Drunkards ſhall be damned, if he be one himſelf. Look therefore to your Life, and copy out that preſſed upon you, 1 Tim. 4.12. Let no Man deſpiſe thy youth but be thou an example of believers, in Word, in Converſation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity. 1 Tim. 3.2. For a Biſhop muſt be blameleſs, the Husband of one Wife▪ ſober, vigilant, of good behaviour; a lover of Hoſpitality, apt to Teach. Verſ. 3. Not given to wine, not a ſtriker, not greedy of filthy lucre.

SECTION VII.

The Peoples Duty in hearing the word.THe People whom God hath kept alive ſhould improve their Life, in attending upon their Miniſters; in inquiring the Law of God at their Lips; in mingling the Word with Faith; in Conforming to the Truths of God, that are Taught by them; and being obedient to them, as thoſe that watch for their ſouls, Heb. 13.17. But more Particularly.

1. Come to Hear the Word of God with more Preparation then you were wont to do; knowing it is the Word of God, and not the word of Men, 1 Theſ. 2.13. as that which doth concern your Immortal Souls, and your eternal ſtate in another World.

2. Come with a more teachable heart than you were wont to do, ſubmitting your Reaſon to the Word that is Taught you; reſolving to forſake every thing which ſhall be proved to you to be p. 176a Sin, and to do every thing which ſhall be made appear to be your Duty: Hear, that you may obey, and Practiſe what you Hear: Be not Hearers only, but Doers of the Word.

3. Suffer not your M…ndes to be filled with ſo many diſtractions, in time of Hearing, as they were wont to be; when you ſit under the Preaching of the Word, let not your Hearts go after your Covetouſneſs, Ezek. 33.31.

4. Make particular Application of what doth moſt concern your Souls, more than you were wont to do: Hear for your ſelves.

5. Treaſure up the Word (that you Hear) in your Hearts, and ſuffer not the Devil to ſteal the good Seed (of the Word) out of your Hearts, nor the Cares of the World to choak the Word of God.

6. Meditate more upon the Word of God after you have heard it; work it upon your heart: Preparation before, diligent Attention in, and Meditation after Hearing, will make you thrive more, and be more fruitful, by the Word Preached, than you were for nerly, when you wholly omitted, or were more ſl…ght in all theſe.

SECTION VIII.

IIIGoverno…s of families muſt ſet up Gods Worſhip in their houſes.SUch whom God hath ſpared alive (in this time of great Morrality) may be conſidered in an Oeconomical capacity, as Perſons conſtituting of Families; and theſe may be conſidered as Governours, or thoſe that are Governed: p. 177and ſurely all our Families are concerned to inquire what Improvement thoſe that are left in Families ſhould make of Gods Signal preſervation of them: Hath God ſwept away ſome Families wholly, not a perſon left, and ſpared yours? doth not this call for ſome return you ſhould make to God? Hath not God viſited your Family, and taken away ſome of your Children, or ſome Servant, or ſome Friend out of your houſe, and hath ſpared you; hath given life to ſo many whom he hath ſo eminently preſerved: When God hath ſent the Plague into your houſe, he gave it Commiſſion to fetch ſuch a one (in your houſe) to his or her eternal ſtate; but, gave it a Charge, it ſhould not ſeize upon you, or, if it did, it ſhould not kill you: and, doth not this call aloud to you, in all your Families, for ſpeedy thorough Reformation? Conſider the diſmal devaſtations made in ſome Families; the total ſubvertion of others: and yet, that God ſhould keep any Families in the midſt of his burning wrath; ſhould not this make every perſon inquire, What would the Lord have me to do? Now, the Governours ſhould bethink themſelves, What is our Duty? and, the Children whom God hath continued to their Parents, What would God have us to do? &c. There is not a Member in a Family but is greatly concerned to ſtudy what is the Duty which he ſhould excel in, according to the capacity and relation he ſtandeth in, in that Family: And that, after ſuch Family-Viſitation there may be Family-Reformation, I ſhall conſider,

p. 178(1.) The Duties of the Family in general, in reference to their joynt-Worſhipping of God.

(2.) Their Duties in particular, in the relation in which they are conſidered. For, when the Family in general, and every Member in particular Live up to the following Duties, they will live in ſome meaſure anſwerably to ſo great Preſervation.

Firſt, After your Families have been in ſuch danger, and yet ſo many of them, and ſo many in them are preſerved; it muſt be your care to ſet up the Worſhip of God in your Families; elſe you cannot [as a Family] walk anſwerably to ſo great Preſervation: What, hath God not turned you out of your Houſe by Death, and will you turn the Worſhip of God out of your Houſe? hath God ſpared you (think you) for this end, that there ſhould be eating and drinking in your Houſes, and not Praying and Reading in your Families? That there ſhould be Working, and Labouring early and late, and no calling upon God? Is this to make a Family-return to God? is this to give to him the Praiſe of his ſafe-keeping of you in time of danger and diſtreſs? And, this is chiefly incumbent upon you that are the Governours of Families, to call your Children and Servants together (every Morning and every Night) to Worſhip the God of your Salvation; the God that hath wrought ſo great Deliverance for you. I beſeech you in the fear of God, nay, in the Name of the eternal God I charge you, that you carefully, conſtantly keep up the Worſhip of p. 179God in your Families. And, that I may follow this, I ſhall ſhew you

Why,

Wherein, and

How,

you muſt Worſhip God in your Families.

SECT. IX.

Why?FIrſt, The Reaſons why you ſhould ſet up the Worſhip of God in your Families, are ſuch as theſe;

1. From the example of the holy Men of God in Scripture, Joſh. 24.15. And, if it ſeeme evil unto you to ſerve the Lord, chooſe you this day whom you will ſerve; whether the Gods whom your Fathers ſerved, that were on the other ſide of the Flood, or the gods of the Amorites in whoſe land ye dwell; but, as for me and my houſe we will ſerve the Lord. Some will ſerve the God of this World, that is the Devil, 2 Cor. 4.4. ſome will ſerve their Bellies, which they make their God, Phil. 3.19. and ſome will ſerve their unrighteous Mammon, which they make their God; but, do you take up Joſhua's Reſolution, That you and your houſe will ſerve the Lord.

2. From the Benefit that will come to you and your houſe, if you carefully and conſtantly Worſhip God therein: God will take care of you and your family, if you take care of his Worſhip therein. Gen. 18.17. And the Lord ſaid, ſhall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? Ver. 19. p. 180For 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.

3. From the great evil that hangs over your family, if you ſhould neglect the Worſhip of God therein; God will curſe your family, and his wrath ſhall be the portion of you and your Children, if the worſhip of God be excluded from your Houſe: though God hath ſpared you and your family in this late Contagion, yet his Wrath is ſtill hovering over your houſe, if you call not upon him, 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 the utmoſt of Gods wrath: and, this ſhall not be dropped only, but poured out upon your family; God will poure down ſhowres of wrath and fury upon thoſe houſes that neglect his Worſhip.

4. From equity; You would have all in your family diſc…a…ge their duties which they owe to you; you would have your children be obedient to you, and your ſervants be dutiful to you, and do your work, and ſerve you; and, is it not then reaſonable that you and they ſhould diſcharge your du…ies unto God? and that you and they ſhould ſerve the Lord? when you and they have more dependance upon God, then they have upon you.

5. If you neglect your duty herein, you will be guilty of the blood of the Soules of thoſe that die in your family, and are damned for ever: you p. 181will be bloody Butchers to the ſoules of your Children and Servants: God hath committed the care of their ſoules (in great meaſure) unto you, and, can you diſcharge your truſt that God hath repoſed in you, in the total neglect of your duty herein? hath not God charged you in the fourth Commandment, that neither you your ſelf ſhould prophane his day, and that you ſhould ſee that neither your ſons nor daughters, neither your men-ſervants, nor maid-ſervants ſhould prophane it; and, if they do, will not God require this at your hand?

6. The total neglect of Family-Worſhip will be … flat denying God to be the God of your family; that you take not God to be the Maſter of your family: would not you ſay, That your Servants deny you to be their Maſter, if they deny their Service to you? and, can you ſay, That God is the God of your houſe, if you, in your houſe do not Worſhip him? Mal. 1.6. A ſon honoureth his Father, and a ſervant his Maſter; if then I be a Father, where is mine honour? and▪ if I be a Maſter, where is my Fear? — if your Family diſown God, God will diſown your Family; and, if God diſown and caſt you off, will not your family be a miſerable family?

7. If you neglect the worſhip of God in your Family, this will be a bad example to thoſe that go out of your family to conſtitute other families; when your Children ſhall have families of their own, and your Servants ſhall have families of their own, will not they be too apt to neglect them, as they have ſeen you neglect yours? and ſo your p. 182ſin will have an influence upon them, and you will be, in ſome reſpect, guilty of the neglect of Gods Worſhip in your Children and Servants families; but, if you be conſcientious in your family, you will be exemplary to them to do likewiſe.

8. God will puniſh your neglect of his Service to him with Family-Judgments: if you do not make your houſe a houſe of Prayer, God will make your houſe an houſe of Contention and Strife; an houſe of Railings and Quarrellings; and will puniſh you with undutiful Children, and diſobedient ſervants: for, how can you expect that they ſhould be good toward you, when you endeavour not to make them good towards God? if you would preſs your Children and Servants to love God, and obey and ſerve God, they would then obey you from a principle of Conſcience, and ſerve you, out of fear to God; they would be more faithful to you, if you would call upon them to ſerve God: Might not God juſtly ſuffer your Servants to purloin, and ſteal from you, when you and they do ſteal from God that time for the World, which is due to God?

SECTION X.

IWhereinSEcondly, The Duties wherein you ſhould worſhip God in your Families, are ſuch as theſe;

In praying.In Praying unto God, and that (1.) ordinarily: And, your ordinary Praying unto God in your family ſhould be daily, and, that at leaſt twice p. 183every day; every Morning when you riſe, and every Night, before you diſmiſs your Family to their reſt and ſleep. Exod. 29.38. Now, this is that which thou ſhalt offer upon the Altar; Two Lambs of the firſt year, day by day continually. Verſ. 39. The one Lamb thou ſhalt offer in the morning, and the other Lamb thou ſhalt offer at even: Though the Ceremonial part of this be aboliſhed, yet the Moral abideth, and is perpetual: and, the reaſons for daily Prayer in your families are perpetual; as,

(1.) Four Reaſons for daily prayer in families.You have daily family ſins, and therefore in your family you ſhould daily confeſs them, and beg the Pardon of them; that you and your family might not go about your neceſſary occaſions all the day, nor to your neceſſary reſt at night, with the guilt of ſin upon your Soules. (2.) You have every day daily wants, therefore you ſhould daily beg ſupplies for your family: and, Chriſt bids you pray, Give us this day our daily bread. (3.) You have family buſineſs every day, and you ſhould pray to God daily for his bleſſing upon your endeavours, for the good of your family. (4.) You have every day family mercies, and ſhould daily bleſs God for them: when you wake in the morning and find your houſe not fired in the night, is not this a family mercy? and, ſhould not your family be called together to bleſs God for this mercy? in the morning you find your family all in health, none of them dead in their beds: and, ſhould not you, ſince you all live, all come together, and bleſs God, that ſleep was not turned into death, nor the darkneſs of p. 184the right into the darkneſs of Hell to any of you? And, have you not many mercies every day, you went out well about your imployment, and you returned well, and God hath bleſt your endeavours with ſucceſs; and, ſhould not you give to God the praiſe of his Mercy before you ſleep? or, if you have ſuſtained ſome Loſſes, ſhould not you pray to God to ſanctifie them to you, and inable you patiently to bear them, and ſubmit to the will of God therein?

(2.) Or, family-Prayer is ſometimes extraordinary, when your family lies under ſome extraordinary affliction, or wants ſome extraordinary mercy, or have had ſome extraordinary deliverance from evil and danger, then ſhould you in your family ſend up extraordinary Prayer and P…aiſes unto God: ſo did Eſther and her Maidens faſt and pray, Eſther 4.16. And I could wiſh that families apart were more acquainted with, and more frequent in this du…y.

IIR…adi…g the Word of God.In Reading the Word of God: This would be bet…er then Cards and Dice. But, in many Fam…l…es the Bible lies upon the ſhelfe all the week long, and ſcarce h…ve it in their hands but when they take it to go to Church, and many ſcarce then neither.

God hath commanded you to acquaint your family with …he wo…d of God, and, how will you do it, if you never Read it to them, nor Diſcourſe of it with them? Deut. 11.18. Therefore ſhall you lay up theſe my words in your heart, and in your ſoul, p. 185and bind them for a ſign upon your hand, that they may be as frontleſs between your eyes. Ver. 19. 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. View this Scripture well, (ye Maſters of Families) and be aſhamed of your neglect of reading the Scripture in your houſes; you ſhould talk of it at home and abroad, morning and night when your Familie ſhould be with you. You ſhould read the Scripture to your Family for theſe Reaſons:

1.4 Reaſons for reading Scripture in Families. Becauſe the Word of God is the ſpiritual food of the ſouls in your Family. It is the bread of Life. It is milk for the nouriſhing of their ſouls, 1 Pet. 2.2. It is to be preferred above their neceſſary food, Job 23.12. Now will you give them bread for their bodies, and deny them bread for their ſouls? Their ſouls can no more live without ſpiritual food, than their bodies can without corporal. Take heed you deny not bread to your children and ſervants ſouls.

2. Becauſe the Word of God is the ſpiritual Armour for the preſerving your Family from being robbed by your ſpiritual Enemies, the Devil, Sin, and the World; You will have ſome weapon in your houſe to defend your ſelf f…om thieves. Why, the Devil will play the thief in your houſe, and will ſteal away the ſouls of your Children, and will ſteal away the ſouls of your Servants, and will you not put ſo much as a Weapon into their hands to defend themſelves? Your Children and Servants will be ſtollen away by the p. 186Spirits, if you arm them not with the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6.17.

3. Becauſe the more you read the Word of God to them, the better they will be to you, and the better perform the duties of their Relation: You complain of diſobedient Children, why do not you read the Scripture to them more, to teach them that God requires them to be obedient to you? You complain of bad Servants, why do not you then read the Word of God to them more, that they may know their duty better by reading the Scripture to them? Make them but good Chriſtians, and then they dare not, but be good Children, and good Servants.

4. Becauſe the Word of God is able to make them wiſe unto Salvation; You would have your Children wiſe to live in the World; you would have them wiſe to get Riches, and a great Eſtate; You would have your Servants wiſe to do your work, and to go about your buſineſs: And would you not have them wiſe for their ſouls? Would you not have them wiſe for heaven and the Life to come? If you would, then acquaint them with the Word of God, 2 Tim. 3.15. And that 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. And he is wiſe indeed, that is wiſe enough to ſave his ſoul.

IIIRepeating things delivered in publick.In repeating what you hear in the publick Congregation, in diſcourſing to your Family what ſin p. 187was reproved, and what duty was inforced, and what were the Arguments and Motives thereunto. What Chriſt preached more publickly, he repeated to his Diſciples (which were as his Family) more privately, Mar. 4.10. and 7.17. Mat. 13.36, 37. and the Apoſtle commanded Wives to ask their Husbands when they came home, the things that were delivered in the Congregation, 1 Cor. 14.34, 35. This would keep your Children and Servants better imployed on the Lords day, than to be ſtanding Idle at your doors, or walking ſinfully in the fields. This would make them profit more by the Word preached, if you would repeat it to them, and uſe them to give account of what they hear.

IVIn Catechizing.In Catechizing of your Family, and teaching them the Principles and Fundamentals of Religion: Mans Innocency by Creation, Mans miſery by the Fall, Mans Recovery by Chriſt, and the terms of the Covenant of Grace; the meaning of the ten Commandments, what ſin in them is forbidden, what duties are required; this is Gods plain Injunction that you ſhould do ſo, Deut. 6.6, 7, 8, 9. and the meaning of the Sacraments, Exod. 12.25, 26, 27. (1.4 Reaſons for Catechizing in Families.) To Teach them while they are young is a good means to make them good when they are old, Prov. 32.6. Train up a child in the way he ſhould go when he is young, and he will not depart from it when he is old: but if you let them alone till they be accuſtomed to do evil, it will be hard to reclaim them, Jer. 13.23. Quo p. 188ſemel eſt Imbuta recens, &c. (2.) This will be an effectual mean… to keep them from being ſeduced, and led away with E…ours and falſe Doctrine. (3.) It will be great cruelty to the ſouls of your Children and Servants to neglect it. Will you carry your ſelf towards your little ones, as the Oſtrich doth towards her young ones, Job 39.14. Which (ſpeaking of the Oſtrich) leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the duſt. Ver. 15. And forgetteth that the foot may cruſh them, or that the wild beast may break them. Ver. 16. She is hardened againſt her young ones, as though they were not hers.— (4.) It would be to break your Vow which you made when you brought your Children unto Baptiſm; Did you not promiſe they ſhould forſake the Pomps and Vanities of this World, and that you would bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and will you dedicate them to God in Baptiſm, and leave them to the devil all their life after?

Conſider I beſeech you, it may be God in mercy and pity to your Childrens and Servants ſouls hath ſpared you in this Late-great Mortality; and conſider whether your conſcience doth not accuſe you of great neglect towards ſome of your Children and Servants which are now lying in their Graves; it may be there hath dyed a poor ſervant out of your houſe, which you never ſpake to in good earneſt about the matters of his ſoul; or doth not your heart wiſh that he were with you again, that you may inſtruct and teach him, and will you do ſo to thoſe that do remain? it may be ſome of them that have died out of your houſe p. 189are gone to hell through your neglect, and will you have no more pi…y upon thoſe that yet are with you? The other, now are out of the reach of your Counſells and Inſtructions, but theſe are not, what was wanting in you towards thoſe that are dead and gone, make up to thoſe that live and do remain.

VIn ſinging Pſalms.In ſinging forth Gods praiſes, in Pſalms, and ſpiritual Songs; this is an Ordinance of God, Eph. 6.19. Jam. 5.13. You muſt ſing with grace, Col. 3.16. Exerciſe your grace of joy in God, in commemoration of Gods benefits, of holy deſires, of Godly ſorrow, as the occaſion and the matter of the Pſalm require; this is the ſweeteſt Harmony in the ears of God. You muſt ſing with underſtanding, with ſenſe and feeling, and to the Lord, to his glory, as in his preſence; this would be more ſutable for your Family, than Ballads, prophane and laſcivious filthy Rymes, which you ſhould not ſuffer under your Roof.

SECT. XI.

How …THirdly, The manner how you ſhould Worſhip God in your Family is chiefly to be minded, for it is not any ſervice that God will accept, you may keep up a courſe of praying in your Family, and yet live very unworthy of the great mercy of God in your wonderful preſervation. Therefore,

p. 1901. Really.In your Family worſhip God really and indeed, with your heart, and mind, and all your ſtrength; do not ſeem to pray, but pray indeed, in your Family.For five Reaſons. For this end conſider, (1.) The God whom you ſerve in your Families is God indeed; he is a real God, therefore worſhip him indeed, and in a real manner. (2.) The ſins of your Families are real ſins, your own ſins are real ſins, and your childrens ſins are real ſins, and have real guilt, therefore confeſs them really, and mourn and ſorrow for them really. (3.) The wants of your Family are real wants; you do not ſeem to want outward mercies, but except God ſupply you, you will want them indeed. (4.) The ſupplies which God doth give you are real ſupplies: God giveth you real health, and real food, and re…l cloathing for your Family, therefore be real in your Family Worſhip. (5.) You and your Family are real in following of the World, you work in good earneſt, and you buy and ſell in good earneſt: And will you be real in the things of the World that concern your Family, and will you not be real in your Family Worſhip?

2. Livelily.In your Family worſhip God Livelily; not only with a true and ſincere heart, but with a lively heart, take heed of dulneſs and formality; take heed of ſleeping at your prayers. And here I would adviſe that Maſters of Families would not put off their duties too long in the Morning, till half the day be paſt, nor too late in the Evening, when the Family will be more diſpoſed p. 191and inclined to ſleep than to pray.

3. Chearfully.In your Family worſhip God chearfully, go not to Family Prayer as a task and burden, but as a great favour and priviledge that you and your Children might call upon God.

4. Conſtantly.In your Family worſhip God conſtantly: Some will pray on a Sabbath night, but it may be not all the Week after. Thus if you ſerve God in your Family it will be a great ſtep to your walking in ſome meaſure anſwerably for ſo great preſervation, and then it will be a good diſcovery that God hath ſpared you in mercy, to do him ſervice in the Education of your Children, and not in judgment, to the encreaſing of your ſins only.

Thus far concerning the Duties of Families whom God hath ſpared in this time of Peſtilence in general. Of the ſeveral Relations in a Family next.

SECT. XII.

SEcondly, If you will live in ſome meaſure anſwerably to ſo great a mercy, as Preſervation from death in a time of great Mortalitie, is, then fill up the duties of your particular Relation wherein you ſtand. Relative ſins are very offenſive unto God, and a great ſcandal to Religion. p. 192The fi…ſt of theſe Relations in a Family is,

Duties of husbands & wives, whom God hath ſpared in this Plague.Firſt, Conjugal, betwixt Husband and Wife; and the great duty incumbent upon them is mutu…l love, in which many are deficient, and many are exceſſive, it being hard for ſuch to let out their affections one to another ſo much as God commands, and no more than God allows; and both theſe extreams will terriſie conſcience when ſuch come to dye. And this ſin is more uſually ſeen when death hath broken this Relation, than while God continueth them together; the Surviver then ſeeth he did not love his Wife, and the Wife, her Husband, with that degree of love as that Relation called for, or with a greater degree than was pleaſing unto God, when the love of this Relation did diminiſh the love they ſhould have to God: And how many breaches hath God made in this Relation to puniſh the ſin of both extreams? It may be thy love was Immoderate, and therefore God hath taken thy Relation from thee: Or it may be thy love was deficient, and therefore God hath taken thy Relation from thee. When thou w…ſt ſick, and thou thoughteſt thou ſhouldeſt have died, did not thy Conſcience then accuſe▪ thee for one of theſe in thy Relation? And yet hath God ſpared thee and thy Wife, or thee and thy Husb…nd, then what conſcience did reproach thee for in this particular, if thou wouldſt anſwer Gods merciemercy in ſparing of thee, let this be reformed. There are many this day may be lamenting not ſo much the loſs of this Relation, as that they did not walk ſutablie in this Relation while they were in p. 193it, this being the ſting of their affliction. Oh! methinks ſuch as God hath continued in a Conjugal Relation in this time of great Mortality, ſhould look upon themſelves now more engaged to perform their mutual duties with more care and conſcience than before. Such a one hath buried his Wife, and ſuch a one hath buried her Husband, but God hath preſerved you in your Relation, you cannot live anſwerablie for this merciemercy but in a better diſcharge of your mutual duties. How would you wiſh you had loved your Relation, Wife or Husband, if God had taken either away by death, ſo do now when God continueth you both in life.

Becauſe this conduceth ſo much to an anſwerable return for ſo great a merciemercy I will a little inſiſt upon it. And in the general, if you would improve this merciemercy, the direction is, that your love and affection be ſuch one to another, as is the love betwixt Chriſt and the Church. Eph. 2.25. Husbands, love your Wives, even as Chriſt loved the Church, and gave himſelf for it. And this love of the Husband muſt be requited with the love of the Wife, for it is reciprocal, Tit. 2.4. Teach the young women to be ſober, to love their Huſbands.—

SECT. XIII.

BUT more particularly I ſhall ſpeak to three things:

p. 194What manner of love is this

Why they ſhould have this

Wherein they ſhould manifeſt this

love one to another.

IIf you will improve this merciemercy God hath vouchſafed you, your love muſt have theſe properties.

1. The properties of their love Superlative.It muſt be a Superlative love, that is in reſpect of all ſublunarie things; though your love to God and Chriſt muſt be more than your love one to another, elſe it doth ſinfully exceed, for if any loveth Father or Mother, Husband or Wife, more than Chriſt, he is not worthie of him, yet in reſpect of all other perſons and things in this world, it muſt be more, elſe it is ſinfully deficient; A man muſt love his Wife above all other perſons, above his Eſtate, or whatſoever is dear unto him in this world, and ſo the Wife. Thus Chriſt loveth his Church, and a believing ſoul, above all other perſons, and the Church reciprocallie loves Chriſt above all other things in the world.

2. ConſtantIt muſt be a Conſtant love, it muſt laſt as long as life in both do…n laſt. The longer you live in this Relation, the more you ſhould love. Length of time muſt not wear off the commanded and allowed ſtrength of your mutual Affection. Thus Chriſt alwaies love… his Church, and the Church alwaies loves Jeſus Chriſt.

3. Holy,It muſt be Holy love; from an holy Principle, obedience to Gods command; in an holy manner, according to the Word of God; for holy ends, the glorie of God, &c. Carnal love, for carnal ends, is not the love that God requireth in this Relation, p. 195Thus Chriſt loves the Church, and the Church loves Chriſt with an holy love.

4. Tender.It muſt be a tender, compaſſionate, and ſympathizing love; if God lay his afflicting hand upon either, in ſickneſs of bodie, in terrours of mind, the other is to be tender, and to ſympathize in thoſe afflictions. If God lay his hand upon both, in Povertie and want, they ſhould not fret one againſt the other, (which is too uſuall) but ſhould both with tenderneſs of compaſſion endeavour to bear the ſame burden, and make up that which is wanting in outward enjoyments in the degree of their love. And this would lighten many burdens, and ſweeten the bitter Cup of affliction which God may put into both their hands; as the want of Conjugal affection in many doth make that heavie which is light, and that bitter which is ſweet. Thus Chriſt loveth his Church, and ſympathizeth with her in all her afflictions, Iſa. 63.9. Acts 9.4.

5. Forgiving loveIt muſt be Forgiving love; that ſhall hide and cover the infirmities of each from the world, every miſcarriage in this Relation ſhould not abate the affection of one to the other. Sinful Infirmities muſt not be allowed of in one another, becauſe they muſt be faithful to each others ſouls, and yet they ſhould not be blazed unto others, becauſe of the love to each others perſon. Thus Chriſt loveth his Church notwithſtanding her ſinful Infirmities; and becauſe he loveth her, he is readie and willing to forgive her. But there is no ſuch retaliation of this Propertie of love in the Church to Chriſt, becauſe he hath no ſuch p. 196ſinful infirmities: but there is no ſuch husband in the world beſides Chriſt, and therefore in our caſe it is reciprocal.

SECT. XIV.

IIThe Reaſons of their loveTHe Reaſons why there ſhould be ſuch love and mutual Affection betwixt thoſe in a Conjugal Relation are ſuch as theſe:

1. Becauſe God commands it; and with gracious perſons a command of God is inſtead of a thouſand Reaſons. Before this Relation be entred into, perſons may lawfullie look after attractives and motives of love, but when once they are ſo rel…ted, this is ſufficient reaſon (though there are others) why they ſhould love, Eph. 5.25. Tit. 2.4.

2. Becauſe they are one fleſh; He that loveth his Wife loveth himſelf, and ſhe that loves her Husband loveth her ſelf, Eph, 5.28, 29. It is unnatural in any to h…te their own fleſh.

3. Becauſe the comfort of their life, and the ſweetneſs of this Relation much depends upon their mutual affection.

4. Becauſe the Goſpel will be much hindered by the want of this love in thoſe that make profeſſion of it: The Goſpel much ſuffers when wicked perſons obſerve that Profeſſors fill not up their relative duties, Tit. 2.4. Teach the young women to be ſober, to love their Husbands, to love their Children. Ver. 5. To be diſcreet, chaſte, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own Husbands, p. 197that the Word of God be not blaſphemed.

5. Becauſe elſe they will be more unfit for ſpiritual duties, either together, or apart. When there are differences betwixt Husband and Wife, it is an hinderance to them in their praying one with another, in their praying one for another; want of this Conjugal affection, and breaches in this relation, hath often ſtraitened the heart of the party offending at the throne of grace, and this profeſſing Husbands and Wives ſhould be careful of, 1 Pet. 3.5, 6, 7. The Apoſtle had exhorted perſons in a Conjugal relation to diſcharge their mutual duties, after the Example of Abraham and Sarah, and the reaſon he alledgeth is, That your Prayers be not hindred.

6. Becauſe elſe they cannot comfortably dye. Breaches in the duties of this Relation, will make great breaches in our peace of conſcience when we come to dye. When you are to part at death, conſcience will be laſhing of you: God hath ſet thee (ſaith Conſcience) in ſuch a relation, but thou haſt not had the love of that Relation. God gave thee ſuch a yoak-fellow, but thou di…ſt not live with that affection as he did require, and now thy relation muſt be broken. Oh the…, ſaith the offendor, if God would continue me a little longer in this relation, how would I walk more ſutably in performing the duties thereof better than hitherto I have done; but do it now before death doth part you.

p. 198SECT. XV.

IIIWherein they ſhould manifeſt this love.THe duties wherein thoſe in a Conjugal Relation ſhould manifeſt this mutual affection, and they are ſuch as are, either

Proper to each.

Common to both.

The Husband manifeſts his love in

Direction in caſes dubious.

Protection in caſes dangerous, 1 Sam. 30.18.

Proviſion of things needful, 1 Tim. 5.8.

The Wife manifeſts her love in

Inward Reverence, Eph. 5.33.

Outward ſubjection, 1 Pet. 3.1.

The duties that are common to both do either concern.

The body, or things temporal.

The ſoul, or things Spiritual.

1. In the affairs of this life they ſhould manifeſt their mutual love one to another, In

Procreation of Children.

Education of Children.

Adminiſtration of houſhold affairs

Times of affliction and ſickneſs.

2. In the concernments of each others ſouls, or things ſpiritual, their love ſhould be eſpecially manifeſted; Love to the ſoul is the Nobleſt love, becauſe the ſoul is the nobler part; to love the body and hate the ſoul, (as too many do) is but cruel love. Their love is higheſt love, that love each others ſouls, and this love is manifeſted,

1. In Reproving one another for ſin; this p. 199is greateſt love; not to reprove is to hate, Lev. 19.17. So Job his Wife, Job 1.9, 10. So Abigail her Husband, 1 Sam. 25.36, 37. where you may obſerve both Abigails Piety, ſhe reproved Nabal: And her Prudence, when the wine was out of his head.

2. In comforting one another under inward terrours; So Manoahs Wife comforted him, Jud. 13.22, 23.

3. In Provoking one another to good works of Piety, and Charity. This is the only allowed contention betwixt Husband and Wife, who ſhall be beſt, and love God moſt, and do moſt good: but not to provoke to wrath and wicked works, as Jezabel did Ahab, 1 Kings 21.7, 8, 9. Wicked Husbands are uſually very wicked,☜ when wicked Wives ſtir them up to do wickedly, ver. 25.

4. In Praying one with another, and praying one for another. It is great love in ſuch to improve their intereſt at the throne of grace one for another.

Thus if you whom God hath ſpared, and continued life unto, after thi… Contagion, would reſolve to live together, you would ſo far as concerns you in this reſpect, live in force meaſure anſwerably to ſo great a mercy, elſe you cannot. Hath God ſpared you to be more unkind one to another? To be bitter one againſt another? To grieve one another? Or do you think this is the Improvement you ſhould make of this mercy? God forbid.

p. 200SECT. XVI.

SEcondly, The next Relation I conſider in a Family, is between Parents and Children, whom God hath continued after this great Mortality. God hath taken away Parents from others, and they are leſt Orphans, but God hath continued thy Parents, Both, or one to thee. What doth God require from thee in anſwer to a ſutable return for this mercy? God hath taken away Children from others, and bereaved them of thoſe that were dear to them, but God hath continued thine, all, or ſome to thee, what doth God require at thy hands in anſwer to a ſutable return for ſo great a mercy? It is that Parents and Children ſhould fill up the duties of this relation, elſe you can never walk worthy of this mercy. But more particularly,

Duties of Parents whom God hath continued to children, viz. Inſtruction.Firſt, Parents, if they would live anſwerable to his mercy of Children continued to them, muſt be careful,

Firſt, In inſtructing of them in the things of God: and training them up in the waies of God, this is the duty of both Parents, Pro. 1.8. My ſon hear the inſtruction of thy Father, and forſake not the Law of thy mother, Prov. 31.1. The words of King Lemuel, the P…opheſie that his mother taught him. This mothers might do when they are dreſſing of their Children. Do not think you do enough if you make proviſion for your children, and get a portion for them: Let me tell you, that is the le…ſt part of your duty, as hard as you p. 201think it is; but, you muſt give them inſtructions, and that

1. Timelily, before they are accuſtomed to evil; they are born in natural hardneſs, and, by frequent acts of wickedneſs they will contract habitual hardneſs; and then, if God clap upon their hearts judicial hardneſs, your Children are undone for ever: Children before they can goe, can run from God; and, before they can ſpeak plainly, can ſpeak wickedly: Teach them not to be proud of their fine Clothes; teach them not Revenge, by giving you a ſtroak to beat others; theſe be the buddings of Pride and Revenge in little Infants.

2. Inſtruct them frequently; They are apt to learn evil, but backward to learn any thing that is good: There muſt be Line upon Line, Deut. 6. 6, 7. You muſt whet the things you ſpeak unto them, that they may pierce their hearts; frequently inculcate the ſame things upon them, and inſtil the knowledg of God into them by little and little.

3. Inſtruct them affectionately; Let them perceive (when more grown up) that they are matters of Weight and Moment, that you ſpeak to them about: When you ſpeak of Heaven and Hell, of God and Sin, let them ſee that your hearts are affected with what you ſay.

Correction.Secondly, In Correcting of them for the evil of Sin: He that ſpares the Rod ſpoiles the Childe: better you correct them here, than God damne them p. 202hereafter: The Rod is as needful for your Children as their Food; Prov. 22.15. Folly is bound in the heart of a Childe, the Rod of Correction ſhall drive it far from him. Do this,

1. Timelily; a young Twigg is flexible, and eaſie to be bent; break them of wicked Words and W…ies betimes, or elſe they may break your heart when they are bigger. Adonijah was Davids D…ling, an …he was wanting in correcting of him, and he Rebelled before he died, and uſurped the Kingdom before his Fathers death: 1 King. 1.5. Then Adonijah the ſon of Haggith exalted himſelf, ſaying, I will be King; and he prepared his Horſmen and Chariots, and fifty Men to run before him. Verſ. 6. And his Father had not diſpleaſed him at any time, in ſaying, Why haſt thou done ſo? — Too much indulgence will make undutiful and diſobedient Children.

2. Proportionably to their fault; Do not Correct a ſmall offence over ſharply, nor an hainous ſin too ſlightly; if you are too ſevere for a ſmall offence, they will hate you: if you are too indulgent in a great offence, they will deſpiſe you. This was Elyes ſin, that he did not correct the hainous ſin, and reprove the abominable practiſe of his Sons with greater ſeverity: 1 Sam. 2.23. And he ſaid unto them, Why do ye ſuch things? for, I hear of your evil dealings by all this People. Verſ. 24. Nay, my Sons, for it is no good report that I hear, ye make the Lords People to tranſgreſs. It is no good report! that was too good a word for ſo hainous wicked Works: it was an abominable thing that was reported by others, and committed p. 203by his Sons: But, ſee what God ſaith to Ely, Verſ. 29. Thou honoureſt thy Sons above me: and, God ſeverely puniſhed his Children for their vile offence; and the Father for his ſo cold reproof, as you may read in the following Verſes.

3. Compaſſionately; do not Correct your Children in the heate of Paſsion, but with bowels of compaſion: when the Rod is in your hand, let there be tender love in your heart.

4. Diſcreetly; Obſerving the temper and diſpoſition of your Childe which you correct; if you Scourge, and frown upon one, as much as is needful for another, you will diſcourage him; if you ſcourge not another, more than this, that is more tender ſpirited, you will not break him: Correction is like a Medicine, in which the Phyſitian hath reſpect to the conſtitution of the Patient. Children are like Herbs, ſome, if you cut and tread will grow again; but, if you do as much to other Herbes, you kill them.

5. Seaſonably; There is much wiſdom in Parents, in timeing their Correcting of their Children; if you correct them for ſome faults before others, you will diſcourage them; take the fitteſt ſeaſon.

6. Penitently; When you correct your Children, judge your ſelf firſt, and repent for your own ſin, or elſe you do but beat your ſelf.

7. Believingly; When you exerciſe your child with the Rod, do you exerciſe faith upon the Promiſe.

Prayer.Thirdly, In Praying much for them; many pray for Children before they have them, but neglect p. 204to pray for them when God hath given them; as though their being were a greater bleſſing than their well-being: you muſt add Prayer to Inſtruction and Correction; for, it is not onelyonly your Inſtruction, nor Correction, but Gods bleſſing given in to ſervent Prayer, that will make your Children good. When you look upon your little Infants as they are ſucking at your breaſts, or laughing in your faces, or playing in your armes; oh conſider the ſeed of ſin that they have in their hearts! that they, by Nature, are the children of wrath; and, when you go to pray for them, uſe ſuch conſiderations that might make your heart to mourn over them, and for them: When you conſider they are enemies to God, can you not mourn for them upon your knees? when you conſider they are loſt children, except mercy find them; that they are damned children except free grace ſave them: Can you not mourn abundantly, and pray ſervently for them? Can you conſider they are by Nature, without the Image and Likeneſs of God, and not be grieved at the heart? that your child is a little Traitor againſt the King of Heaven; a little Rebel againſt the glorious God; and, will you not pray that his heart may be changed? Could you weep and grieve if your Child were a Monſter, if it had a body of one kind, and an head of another; if it had an Arme too much, or a Leg too much, or little; why, its miſery is more by Nature then all this, and yet, can you not mourn in your Prayers for him?

p. 205Chooſing them a Calling.Fourthly, In Chooſing for them ſome lawful Calling and putting them forth unto ſome Religious familie: Chooſe not a Calling that hath more ſnares and temptations attending it, then uſually others have; and place them in ſuch families, where they may learn the way to Heaven, as well as the way to be rich in the World: If you put them forth to an ungodly family, you may looſe all your former labour in Inſtruction, Correction, and Prayer: for, will you give your Childe an Antidote, and then care not if he run into a Peſt-houſe, among perſons that have running Plague Sores; or, would you not judge it preſumption in any ſo to do, without a ſpecial call? but, the former is greater, and higher, and more dangerous preſumption than the latter; in as much as the death of the Body of your Child is endangered by the one; but the damnation of his Soul is endangered by the other.

Diſpoſing them in MarriageFifthly, In careful diſpoſing of them in Marriage▪ That you Match them to godly Perſons, and, if you can, into a godly family; or, to one that hath Religious Relations: Take heed of Marrying them to the children of the Devil, though their outward advantage be never ſo much: Thus Abraham took care that his ſon Iſaac ſhould not take a Wife of the Daughters of the Canaanites, amongſt whom he dwelt, Gen. 24.3. If you thus take care for your children, whom God hath continued to you in this great Mortality, you act, in this reſpect, p. 206in ſome meaſure anſwerably to ſo great a Mercy.

SECTION XVII.

Duties of Children, whom God hath continued to their Parents.Secondly, Children, if they would live anſwerably in their Relation, to ſo great a Mercy, as is, Gods ſparing their Parents, and continuing them unto them, muſt be careful of filling up the Duties of their Relation: and, the Duty of Children is ſet down in Col. 3.20. Children, obey your Parents in all things, for this is well-pleaſing unto the Lord: In which obſerve,

1. The Charge, Obedience.

2. The Perſons charged; Children, younger, elder, poor or rich.

3. The Perſons to whom this obedience is to be given. Parents,

Father,

Mother.

whether

Poor, or

Rich.

4. The extent of this obedience; In all things.

5. The limitting and enforcing Reaſon, for this is well-pleaſing to the Lord; therefore the all things are to be limitted to things lawful, elſe it would not pleaſe the Lord; but, they muſt in thoſe things, becauſe it pleaſeth God.

Now, if you that are Children would walk worthy of Gods Mercy, in ſparing your Parents p. 207to you in this contagious times, you muſt obey them in theſe Particulars.

1. In receiving Inſtructions from them, in hearkning to their wholſome Counſel and Advice, Prov. 3.1. My ſon forget not my Law, but let thine heart keep my Commandments, Prov. 4.1, 2, 3, 4. and 5.1, 2, 7. and 6.20. &c. and 7.1, 2, 3.

2. In ſubmitting to their Correction, without murmuring and repining.

3. In being content with your Diet and Apparel that your Parents provide for you.

4. In yeilding them ſuſtenance and Maintenance if they come to Poverty, if you be able to ſupply them; they gave you maintenance when you could not provide for your ſelves, do you ſo for them, if they need, though you work hard to help them, 1 Tim. 5.4. But, if any Widow have Children, or Nephews, let them firſt learn to ſhew piety at home, and to requite their Parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. Though Children can never (fully) requite their Parents, for they had their being by them; and, what if they have help by you in outward things, you had your being by them, and that is more: Take heed of being aſhamed of your Parents, if they be poor, and you are raiſed to an higher degree in the World than ever they were, but, to diſown them would be impious.

5. In ſubmitting to their choiſe of a Calling for you.

6. In diſpoſing of you in Marriage: Change not your Condition without their Conſent, as Iſaac, Gen. 24. and Sampſon, Judg. 14.1, 2. Nay, p. 208Iſhmael obeyed his Mother in his Marriage, Gen. 21.21. and, will you be worſe than Iſhmael?

7. In all things, though they be croſs to your humour, though it might not pleaſe you, yet, if it pleaſe your Parents you muſt do it. But, that I may not lay a ſnare for Childrens Conſciences, and put a Staff into ungodly Parents hands, to drive their Children to Hell, you muſt take this diſtinction of [things,] viz.

Things are either,

Simply good and neceſſary, and theſe muſt be done, though your Parents forbid you; as Praying, Reading Scripture, &c.

Simply evil and unlawful, and theſe muſt not be done, though your Parents command you; as to play, or work upon the Lords day, to lie and defraud in dealing.

Neither good nor evil in their own nature (though every thing is good or evil, conſidered in all circumſtances) and, in all theſe you muſt obey your Parents.

And, the reaſons of this obedience to your Parents, are ſuch as theſe.

1. Reaſons for theſe Duties.Gods command, Epheſ. 6.1. Children, obey your Parents in the Lord. V. 2. Honour thy Father and Mother, which is the firſt Commandment with Promiſe; That is the firſt Command with Promiſe in the ſecond Table; for, there is a p. 209Promiſe in the ſecond Command of the Firſt Table, of ſhewing Mercy unto thouſands, &c.

2. This is right, or juſtice; Epheſ. 6.1. Thou hadſt thy being and thy education by thy Parents, therefore it is juſtice thou ſhouldeſt obey them.

3. Chriſts Example; He was obedient to his Parents, Luke 2.51. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was ſubject to them.

4. Gods Judgments upon diſobedient Children: Abſalom Rebelled againſt his Father, and God cut him off in the very act of his Rebellion.

5. It is pleaſing to God: If it were in any thing that would diſpleaſe God, you muſt not do it; for you muſt pleaſe your Heavenly Father rather than your Earthly, but, if it be pleaſing unto God, you muſt not deny it; you pleaſe God, when you pleaſe your Parents in things lawful.

6. God might puniſh you with diſobedient Children hereafter, if you are diſobedient to your Parents now: Thus Children alſo will walk ſo farr anſwerably to ſo great a Mercy, as Gods ſparing their Parents to them, if they thus obey them.

SECTION XVIII.

THirdly, The next Relation I conſider in a Family, is, the Relation of Maſters and Servants, whom God hath ſpared in this great Mortality; and, if you would live in ſome meaſure anſwerably to this Mercy (as, it is a Mercy to ſome to have Servants; and, it is a Mercy to p. 210others to have Maſters) then you muſt fill up the duties of your Relation.

Duties of Maſters whom God hath continued to Servants.Firſt, Maſters Duties are ſet down, Col. 4.1. Maſters, give unto your Servants that which is juſt and equal, knowing, that ye alſo have a Maſter in Heaven: where you have,

1. The Charge that is given, to do that which is juſt and equal.

2. The Perſons to whom this Charge is given: Maſters.

3. The Perſons unto whom this juſtice and equity muſt be ſhown: Servants.

4. The Reaſon to enforce it; knowing that ye have a Maſter in heaven. There is no Man, that is a Maſter, but he hath a Maſter, and that is God.

1. Maſters muſt not impoſe upon their Servants any thing ſimply unlawful, that is not juſt; to Work, or carry Burdens upon the Lords day, without neceſſity, &c.

2. Maſters muſt not impoſe upon their Servants things above their ſtrength, though they be lawful, this is not juſt.

3. Maſters muſt not deny their Servants convenient Food, nor their due Wages, this is not juſt.

4. Maſters muſt not turn away their Servants when they are ſick, who ſerved them when they were in health and ſtrength, without their conſent; this is not juſt.

5. Maſters muſt not deny them neceſſary time p. 211for the performance of their neceſſary duties unto God, this is neither juſt nor equal: It is but equity if Servants ſpend their time in your ſervice, that you ſhould allow them ſome time for the Service of God, and the ſaving of their ſouls: for, to wear out their Bodies in ſerving you now, and, for want of time to Read and Pray, to have their Soules damned hereafter, would be a very unequal, unjuſt, and unreaſonable thing.

SECT. XIX.

Duties of Servants whom God hath continued to Maſters.Secondly, Servants, if you would live anſwerably for the Mercy of God, in ſparing you, then performe the Duties God requireth at your hands towards your Maſters. The Duty of Servants is ſet down, Eph. 6.5. Servants, be obedient to them that are your Maſters, according to the fleſh, with fear and trembling, in ſingleneſs of heart, as unto Chriſt. Verſ. 6. Not with eye-ſervice, as Men-pleaſers, but as the ſervants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Verſ. 7. With good will doing ſervice, as to the Lord, and not to Men. Verſ. 8. Knowing, that whatſoever good thing any Man doth, the ſame ſhall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. To this the Apoſtle addeth; Servants, obey in all things your Maſters, knowing, that of the Lord ye ſhall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye ſerve the Lord Chriſt, Col. 3.22, 23, 24, 25. in both which places the Apoſtle meets with the uſual defects of Servants in their Relation; which are

p. 2121. Half Service.

2. Eye Service.

3. Hypocritical Service.

4. Prophaneneſs in Service.

5. Irreverence in Service.

6. Grudging in Service.

7. Baſeneſs of mind in Service.

To theſe are oppoſed Service

1. In all things.

2. Not eye-ſervice.

3. In ſingleneſs of heart.

4. In the fear of God.

5. Trembling.

6. From the heart, and with good will.

7. A glorious reward.

1. Servants muſt do all the ſervice they owe unto their Maſters; not to do one thing, and leave another undone, but, you muſt obey in all things, i. e. lawful.

2. Servants muſt not give eye ſervice; That is, onelyonly in their Maſters ſight and preſence, but muſt be as careful of their Maſters buſineſs in his abſence, as if he were looking on them: they muſt not do their work as thoſe that are ſerving Men, who cannot alwaies ſee them, but as the ſervants of Chriſt, ſerve him, who believe, that he alwaies ſees them: and, let Servants remember, that though Maſters do not alwaies ſee them, yet God doth.

3. Servants muſt performe the Works of their Maſters ſervice in ſingleneſs of heart, with uprightneſs, and without diſsimulation; they muſt not be hypocrites in Mens ſervice, as they muſt not in the p. 213Service of God: Servants muſt do all from obedience to Gods Commands, and yield therefore obedience to wicked Maſters in lawful things, 1 Pet. 2.18. Servants, be ſubject to your Maſters with all fear; not onelyonly to the good and gentle, but alſo to the froward. So, to poor Maſters, though they can give them but mean wages.

4. They muſt do it in the fear of God: As the ſervants of God muſt pray in the fear of God, and hear in the fear of God; ſo they that are ſervants to Men, muſt do their work in the fear of God: then, they muſt not Curſe and Swear at their work, nor talk ſinfully, nor ſpeak or ſing obſcenely.

5. Wi…h reverence to their Maſters, 1 Tim. 6.1. Let as many ſervants as are under the yoke, count their own Maſters worthy of all Honour, that the Name of God and his Doctrine be not blaſphemed: If thou ſerve a poor Maſter, yet, being thy Maſter, thou art bound to honour him; elſe, thou will be a reproach to the Name of God, and his Doctrine.

6. They muſt not grudge the Service they do, but do it from the heart, and with good will: Servants hearts muſt not be ſet upon their Maſters buſineſs, they cannot give away their heart from God: but, they muſt do their Work from the heart, i. e. willingly, cheerfully.

7. They muſt not onelyonly aime at the wages they have from their Maſters; that is poor, and low, and ſordid to work and labour for ſuch a reward; but, as thoſe that know, if they do their ſervice, (be it never ſo mean and ſervile) in obedience to Gods p. 214command, and for his glory, they ſhall have a reward in Heaven: God will reward the mean ſervice of a poor ſervant with an eternal Crown.

8. They muſt be faithful in their Maſters buſineſs; they muſt not purloin, ſteal, and ſecretly convey away any thing of their Maſters Eſtate, Money or Goods; or ſell it at under-rate to his Maſters real prejudice and dammage, by private contract between himſelf and the buyer, to conſider him for his cheap Bargain. Tit. 2.9. Exhort ſervants to be obedient unto their own Maſters, and to pleaſe them well in all things, not anſwering again. Verſ. 10. Not purloining, but ſhewing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. When thy hand is in thy Maſters Box, and thou art pilfring away his Money, to Game, to keep Company, or ſpend any way without his knowledge, this is Theft; and, God ſeeth thee, though he do not: and, if thou haſt purloined, or ſtole any thing, thou art bound to reſtore it, if thou canſt, and, to confeſs thy fault and be humbled, and do ſo no more.

9. They muſt be frugal for their Maſters; that, though they ſteal nothing from them, yet they may ſin, by ſuffering their Maſters Goods to be waſted; as Food to be caſt away, and many things to be ſpent and conſumed when there is no need: this is not to ſhew all fidelity to your Maſters. So Jacob, Gen. 31.36, 37.38, 39, 40. That which was torn of beaſts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loſs of it: of my hands p. 215didſt thou require it, whether ſtollen by day, or ſtollen by night.

10. They muſt not anſwer again out of a murmuring ſpirit, nor give word for word; that, if their Maſter rebukes them for their ſin, they muſt not ſpeak as faſt as he: nay, though a Maſter ſhould ſpeak Wrathfully, and in unjuſt Anger, yet they muſt not Anſwer Perverſely to them again, but with meekneſs and ſilence (except they require, or give leave) go about their Imployment, committing their cauſe to God, who will right them, if their Maſters wrong them, Col. 3.25. But, he that doth wrong, ſhall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and, there is no reſpect of Perſons. God regards not Mens outward conditions; he regards not the Miſtriſs more than the Maid: nor the Maſter more than the Man; but judgeth righteouſly betwixt the greateſt and the meaneſt.

11. They muſt remember, when they are obedient in their Maſters Service, they are ſerving the Lord Chriſt: What a poor ſervant doth in ſervile Labour, in the meaneſt, loweſt imployment, he is ſerving of God: and, this might ſweeten to him more difficult and unpleaſing Work.

Thus I have done with this direction, in which all Men, in one capacity or other, herein conſidered, are concerned to make improvement of Gods Preſerving of them in p. 216time of ſo great Contagion; by being eminently exemplary in the Conditions, Capacity, Relations, wherein they ſtand; which, if they do (caeteris paribus) they live in ſome meaſure anſwerable to ſo great a Mercy.