The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 16 – Chapter 17
CHAP. XVI.
ALL this that we have laid downe in the generals may be ſeene more evidently in the particulars, concerning the manner and order of the government of his family, his holy exerciſes, and religious duties,And then in the ſpecialties and particulars. 1. In his family, & 2. In the aſſembly, conſtantly and conſcionably performed in the ſame. Wherein, his firſt, and principall care was for his wife and children, that hee might dwell with her as a man of knowledge, and bring them up in the nurture and information of the Lord; both which hee through the good hand of God upon his holy labours, ſo effectually brought to paſſe, that he had much comfort, though mingled with ſome croſſe, in their well doing.In his family. 1. Dwelling with his wife as a man of knowledge, in Peace and love as equall yoke fellowes. His wife, though well affected before, in matters of religion, and much exerciſed in the duties and ſervices of the ſame, yet now by her husbands gracious and good example, in the practice and power of it, and his holy and wholeſome admonitions, inſtructions, exhortations, and wiſe and mild rebukes alſo, as occaſion required; ſhee was brought on to a higher pitch, and degree of knowledge and of grace, and became a faithfull helper unto him, in the beſt things, and a carefull yoke-fellow, to bear, and to draw in the yoke of Chriſt, (both in doing and ſuffering the will of God together with him) as a true Chriſtian.A good example to husbands A good example for ſuch good men, as deſire to be good husbands alſo, to tender, and procure their wives comfort and welfare, aſwel in matters of religion, tending to their ſalvation; as in the affairs of this life, to lead and guid them aright, for their outward peace and contentment.And wives As alſo for ſuch good women that would be reckoned in the number of gracious and good wives, that they be (in meekneſſe and humility') ſo ſubject unto their husbands, that they may bee teachable to learne, and tractable to obſerve and obey whatſoever, in and for the Lord, they ſhall require of them. This alſo diſcovereth the miſerable condition of ſuch families,A diſcovery of the miſery of unequall yokefellowes, Manifeſted in foure inſtances. where the governours are unequally yoked, being diverſe both in opinion and affection, touching matters of Religion; and ſo much diſtracted and diſordered in the performance of ſuch religious duties: as the Lord in their families requires at their hands, which I ſee not how it can poſſibly bee otherwiſe, when the husband drawes one way, and the wife another. As firſt, when the husband is an Atheiſt that calls not upon God, no prayer in his family, no thankſgiving at his Table for his meate, no reading of holy Scripture: the wife a Papiſt, contenting her ſelfe with her blind devotions, upon her beads and bookes, in her private chamber and her cloſet, to feed and cheriſh her ſeduced heart, and corrupted humour therewithall. Secondly, when the huſband is a prophane Eſau, minding only earthly things, and embracing, like Demas, this preſent world, followeth with great eagerneſſe the profits and pleaſures of this life: the wife a godly matron like Sarah in her Tent, faithfull and painfull, carefull of her familie and friends, with Mart ha, and conſcionable of that one thing which is needfull, with Mary, having choſen the better part which ſhall not be taken from her. Thirdly, when one thinkes every little too much, or enough at leaſt, in Gods ſervice, the other thinks againe, all that they can doe too little, to teſtifie their thankfullneſſe and faithfullneſſe to God, in the religious duties of their families. Fourthly, when the one contents himſelfe with a forme of godlineſſe, putting a ſhag-hared ſervingman to read a few cold prayers, and a ſimple and ſilly childe to ſay grace, and ſo ſlubber over their morning and evening ſervice, being as well pleaſed as if they had gotten Micha his Levite into their houſe, or one of Jeroboams prieſts to do them ſervice, in worſhipping the Calf which is ſet up amongſt them.
The other is much blamed for that, rejecting all phariſaicall formality in religion, they deſire ſuch effectuall and powerfull meanes of grace, as may enable them to ſhew forth the power and fruit of godlines in a good converſation. Alas! what diſtractions and contentions muſt here needs be? what diſtemper and diſorder both in the governors, and government of ſuch a family muſt needs ariſe? where husband and wife (who ſhould being yoke-fellows, draw equally in one yoke) are yet unequally yoked,…oves qui jungit adaratrū, equos ad currum pares eligit & ut aetas conveniat & forma, Amb. lib. 8 Epift. 86. ad Paternum. that when the one drawes forwards, the other drawes backwards, the one puts his ſhoulder to the burden, the other withdrawes himſelf from it, or ſtands in open oppoſition againſt the bearing of it. It was far otherwiſe with this Gentleman and his faithfull yoke-fellow, who being both of one mind and one heart, in the profeſſion of the Goſpel, and both well affected, and acquainted, with the power and practice of religion, became as lamps and lights to the reſt of their family, by their holy example, and godly converſation amongſt them.
CHAP. XVII.
2 In their godly education of their children.THeir children they brought up in the knowledge and feare of God, laying the foundation, by continuall catechizing of them in the principles and grounds of true Chriſtian Religion, and building thereon farther, by ſuch ſentences and portions of holy Scriptures,1 By inſtruction. as might beſt fit their tender yeares, and make the eaſieſt impreſſions of grace and truth in their hearts. And becauſe he well knew that it was not enough for himforeign, i. to put good things upon their minds, but alſoforeign, to nurture them by correction, as occaſion ſhould require,2 By correction. and ſo both by the word and by the rod to bring them up in the information of the Lord: He therefore did not ſpare to uſe the rod of correction as Gods healing medicine to cure the corruptions of his children, and to heale their ſoules of their ſinnes by the ſame. Wherein if at any time his heart were ſo over-heated by his hatred of their ſin,Wherein if his paſſions exceeded, He was humbled. and zeale for Gods glory, that he did either ſpeake unadviſedly with his lips, or deale too violently with his hands, He was afterwards much troubled at it, and much humbled for it; that going about to heale others, he had ſo raſhly procured a ſtroke and a wound unto himſelfe,Healed. for which now he found no better remedy than to have recourſe unto his heavenly Father by humble and hearty prayer, who healeth all the infirmities both of Parents and children, and forgiveth all their ſinnes,And bettered in 4. particulars. Optabatur in eo, quod in aliis timebatur, ut iraſceretur. Amb. de obit. Theod. when they ſeeke unto him. The fruits of which his holy deſires and endeavours he found and reaped in due ſeaſon. For firſt he became hereby more watchfull over his ſpirit and ſpeech, in all ſuch occaſions, and provocations to paſſion and diſtemper. Secondly, he grew more moderate in correction, keeping himſelfe within the bounds of it, diſcretion and compaſſion. Thirdly, when his paſſions were moſt vehement againſt ſinne, he much aſſwaged the heat thereof,3 In the governing of his ſervants. by his love and tender affections towards the ſinner. Fourthly, He lived to ſee thoſe whom he moſt ſharply corrected, effectually converted and reformed.