A Demonstration of Family Duties, Proposition 56 – Proposition 58
LVI. PROPOSITION. Moreover, Governours of families ought to looke to the waies of their families, & to take co… that the members of their ho… holds doe joyne in the ſervice God with them.
PROOF. When Jacob was advertiſed goe up to Bethel to dwell there, and to ſ… the Lord; he takes courſe with his fam… that they ſhould joyne with him there See this Gen. 35.2, 3. Then Jacob … unto his houſhold, and to all that … with him, Put away the ſtrange Gods … are among you, and be cleane, and cha… your garments, And let us ariſe, and g… up to Bethel, &c.] And thus renow… Joſhua approved himſelfe. See Joſh. 24.… But as for me, and my houſe, wee will ſerve … Lord.
I. REAS. Becauſe governours of famili… are charged to ſee not only to the welfare … the bodies and outward ſtate of thoſe th… belong unto them: See 1 Timoth. 5.8. … any provide not for his owne, and ſpecially for th… of his owne houſe, he hath denied the faith, and worſe then an infidell: But they ought alſo … watch for their ſoules, by how much the good of their ſoules is of greateſt value, Se… Math. 16.26. For what is a man profited, if … ſhall gaine the whole world, and looſe his o… ſoule? Or what ſhall a man give in exchange for his ſoule? God gave the fourth commandement to all men, but ſpecially to Governours of families. Exod. 20.8—10. And we know God had a controverſy with old Eli for the wickedneſſe of his ſonnes. See the ſtory, 1 Sam. 2.29.
II. REAS. Becauſe if governours be carefull to doe their full endeavour in the behalfe of thoſe of their families in the buſines of ſerving God; albeit poſſibly they cannot prevaile with them ſo effectually, as were to be wiſhed; yet they ſhall in ſo doing ſave their owne ſoules. See this implied, Ezek. 3.19. Yet if thou warne the wicked, & he turne not from his wickedneſſe, nor from his wicked way, he ſhall dye in his iniquity; but thou haſt delivered thy ſoule. True it is, this is ſpecially ſpoken of the Miniſter; but the governour of the family may learne his leſſon hence, ſith he hath as fully the charge of his family, as the miniſter hath of the Congregation in this matter.
OBSERV. It is the wiſdome of thoſe that are to be governours of families, to lay a good foundation for tractableneſſe unto religion in thoſe that are to belong unto them: Firſt, by marrying in the Lord, and living chaſt in wedlock, that there may be an holy ſeed. See Mal. 2.15. And ſecondly, by taking heed whom they doe admit to d… with them, that they be tractable unto … gious courſes. See Davids reſolution h… in. Pſal. 101.6, 7. Mine eyes ſhalbe … the faithfull of the land, that they … dwell with me: He that walketh in a… fect way, he ſhall ſerve me. He that … keth deceit, ſhall not dwell within … houſe: He that telleth lies ſhall not t… in my ſight. Alluſ. The Lord in his … forbade any Proſelyte, to be admitted to … Paſſeover (though he were himſelfe circumciſed, and did outwardly profeſſe the fai… unleſſe all the males in his houſe were c… cumciſed alſo, and did profeſſe the fa… aſwell as himſelfe. See Exod. 12.48.
LVII. PROPOSITION. The members and inhabitant… of Chriſtian families ought to b… willing and tractable to joyn… readily together in the performance of family-duties of religion, and to ſubmit to their governours going out and in before them therein.
PROOF. This rule of direction is implied in the letter of the firſt commandement of …e ſecond table of the morall law: Exod. …0.12. Honour thy father and thy mother; It is …plied alſo Hebr. 13.17. Obey them that have …e Overſight of you, and ſubmit your ſelves, &c. …ee Epheſ. 6.1, 2.
I. REAS. Becauſe in ſuch their tractable …ubmiſſion in the Lord, they ſhalbe a great …omfort and encouragment to their governours, who doe watch for their ſoules, as …hey that muſt give account, that they may doe it with joy, and not with greife, as is …poken, Hebr. 13.17. See Prov. 23. verſ. 24, 25. The father of the righteous ſhall greatly rejoyce: and he that begetteth a wiſe child ſhall have joy of him: Thy father and thy mother ſhalbe glad, and ſhe that bare thee ſhall rejoyce.
II. REAS. Becauſe unſpeakable fruit and benefit ſhall redound unto them themſelves by ſuch their ſubmiſſion and tractableneſſe to their rulers in the waies of religion. See Prov. 1.8, 9. My ſonne heare the inſtruction of thy father, and forſake not the law of thy mother. For they ſhalbe an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chaines about thy neck.
III. REAS. Becauſe of the encouragment thence to others, the people of God, who will joy to ſee their order, See 2 John, verſ. 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy children king in trueth, as we have received a commande… from the Father.
OBSERV. Any members of famili… even godly ſervants, may adorne the Goſ… by a due approving of themſelves to t… governours. See Titus, 2.10. Whe… through an undue courſe of theirs, … Name of God, and his doctrine may be … phemed; as is implied, 1 Timoth. 6.1.
LVIII. PROPOSITION. Thoſe Chriſtian families a… thrice happy and bleſſed for eve… more, whoſe God is the Lord and doe feare this glorious a… fearefull Name, THE LORD THY GOD, walking in … waies, and departing from all in quity.
PROOF. See Pſal. 144.15. Happy is t… people that is in ſuch a caſe: yea happie is that pe… ple whoſe God is the Lord. See alſo Pſal. 119.… Bleſſed are the undefiled in the way; who walkes the law of the Lord.
REAS. Becauſe they ſhall have peace as mercy from the Lord, both temporally ſpiritually, and eternally. See this Galat. …. 16. And as many as walke according to this …le, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Iſrael of God. Pſal. 119.6. Then ſhall I not be …hamed, when I have reſpect unto all thy comman…ements. See alſo Pſal. 125, & 127, & 128. …holly, being three of the Pſalmes of degrees.
OBSERV. O how it concerneth all Chriſtians to exerciſe themſelves unto godlines! ſith bodily exerciſe profiteth little, but godlineſſe is profitable unto all things, and hath the promiſes both of this life, and of that which is to come. See 1 Tim. 4.7, 8.
Revel. 22.20. He which teſtifieth theſe things, ſaith, Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even ſo, Come Lord Jeſus.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Paget, A Demonstration of Family Duties (1643)