A Treatise of Family Instruction, Chapter 1

A Treatise of Family Instruction · Chapter 1

CHAP. I.

The Evils that ariſe from the neglect of Family-Inſtruction: Whence it proceeds that Family-Inſtruction is neglected. Five Arguments to prove it to be a Duty. The Inſtructions we give our Families muſt be drawn out of the Scriptures. Servants as well as Children muſt be inſtructed. Mothers as well as Fathers muſt inſtruct their Children.

THe neglect of Family-Inſtruction is a great and yet a common Evil: The ſad effects thereof, ſuch as the decay of the power of Godlineſs, groſs ignorance, undutiful and diſobedient Children, evil and unfaithful Servants, the growth and increaſe of ſin, &c. are ſo plain and viſible p. 2almoſt in all places, that he that runneth may read them. Neither is it the preſent Generation only, which is corrupted through the careleſneſs of thoſe Parents and Maſters of Families who neglect to train up their Children and Servants in the knowledge and fear of God; but hereby ignorance and iniquity are like to be propagated unto, and greatly increaſed in, the Generations which are yet to come. For when God ſhall give thoſe Children and Servants who were trained up without Inſtruction, Families of their own, it is moſt probale that they will neglect to teach their Children and Servants, and that the ſucceeding Generations which ſhall ſpring out of their Loyns, will tread in their Fathers ſteps, and ſo vice and ignorance will deſcend from one Family to an other for many generations. If we enquire into the ground and cauſe of this evil, whence it cometh to paſs that Family-Inſtruction is ſo much neglected, I conceive the reaſon of moſt, if not of all mens neglect of this Duty, may be reduced to one of theſe four heads:

1. Either they are not convinced that it is their Duty to inſtruct their Families.

Or 2. Though they know it to be their Duty, they want an heart to ſet about the performance of it.

Or 3. Though they are willing to inſtruct their families, yet they know not how to ſet about this work, at leaſt they know not how to carry it on in an advantageous ſucceſsful manner, and therefore leave it undone.

Or 4. They have gotten certain pleas, whereby they think to excuſe their neglect of this work. Wherefore in this enſuing Treatiſe, the deſign whereof is to excite parents and maſters of families p. 3to train up their children in the knowledge and obedience of the Scriptures, I ſhall do theſe four things.

1. I ſhall prove it is the duty of parents and maſters of families to inſtruct their children and ſervants in the knowledge, and to train them up in the obedience of the word of God.

2. I ſhall produce ſome motives to excite thoſe who neglect this work of Family-inſtruction, to be diligent, conſtant, and conſcientious, in the performance of their duty in teaching and inſtructing their families.

3. I ſhall give ſome directions how this work of family-inſtruction may be carried on ſo as to promote the converſion, edification, and eternal ſalvation of ſuch as are under our charge.

4. I ſhall anſwer the moſt material Pleas and Objections that are brought againſt training up our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures, whereby many perſons are either kept from, or diſcouraged in the performance of this work.

I ſhall begin with the firſt of theſe, namely to prove, that it is the duty of all Parents and Maſters of Families to teach the Scriptures unto their Children and Servants, and to train up their Families in the knowledge and obedience of the Word of God.

SECT 1. Scripture proofs for Family-Inſtruction. The Inſtructions we give our Families muſt be drawn out of the word of God.

Arg. 1 WE have many plain and expreſs Commandments from God, wherein the Lord ſtraightly chargeth all Parents and Maſters of p. 4families to teach his word unto their children and ſervants, and requireth them to be very diligent therein. I ſhall mention ſome places both out of the old and alſo out of the new Teſtament, where we have expreſs commands from God for the teaching his word to our children, and prove that under the name of Children, are comprehended our Servants, and all the Members of the Family: Deut. 6.6, 7. And theſe words which I command thee this day, ſhall be in thine heart, and thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and ſhalt talk of them when thou ſitteſt in thine houſe, and when thou walkeſt by the way, and when thou lieſt down, and when thou riſeſt up. This being a full and pregnant Text for proving the point in hand, I ſhall obſerve ſeveral things from it:

1. What it is which we are to teach our children, and that is the word of God; Theſe words which I command thee this day—thou ſhalt teach them unto thy Children. The Apoſtle gives this commendation of the Scripture, that it is profitable for inſtruction in Righteouſneſs, 2 Tim. 3.16. and intimates to us, Rom. 2.17, 18. That the Jews drew their inſtructions which they gave to thoſe whom they taught, out of the Law of God: Behold thou art called a Jew, and knoweſt his will, and approveſt the things that are more excellent, being inſtructed out of the Law of God.

2. Obſerve who they are whom God commands to teach his word unto their Children, and you ſhall find that this Charge is not given to the Tribe of Levi, but to all Iſrael: The Lord calls out twice to the whole Body of the People, Hear O Iſ ael, verſ. 3. Hear O Iſrael, verſ. 4. If it had been ſaid, Hear O Houſe of Aaron, or Hear O ye Sons of Levi, we might have thought it had ſpecial reference to the Miniſters of the Word; but when this charge is uſhered p. 5in with a double Call to all Iſrael to give audience, no man can ſay, This Command of teaching Gods word to my Children, belongeth not unto me, except he be one that is and reſolveth to continue an alien to the Commonwealth of Iſrael: I may adde further, that this charge, Thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy Children, is given to the ſame perſons that are commanded to love God with all their hearts, verſ. 5. and to the ſame perſons that are enjoyned to treaſure up Gods word in their hearts, verſ. 6. So that every one that is obliged to love God, and to lay up Gods word in his heart, is obliged alſo, if he be one unto whom God hath given Children, to teach Gods word unto his Children.

3. Take notice what is meant by teaching Gods word unto our Children: It implies, 1. That we ſhould train them up in the knowledge of the Scriptures: To teach, is to convey knowledge and underſtanding, Pſal. 119.66. Teach me good judgement and knowledge; and to this effect the Perſian Tranſlation renders theſe words, Expones ea filiis tuis, Thou ſhalt expound them unto thy Children, thou ſhalt cauſe them to underſtand the ſenſe and meaning of my word. 2. To teach our Children the Scriptures, is to train them up in the obedience and practice of thoſe things which the Lord requireth of us in his holy word: There is a teaching to do, as well as to know the will of God, Pſal. 143.10. Teach me to do thy will. Matr. 28.20. Teaching them to obſerve all things whatſoever I have commanded you. 2 Chron. 6.27. Thou haſt taught them the good way wherein they ſhould walk.

4. Obſerve in what manner, and when we are to teach Gods word unto our Children; this work muſt not be done in a ſlight ſuperficial manner, but with p. 6all diligence; Thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy Children. And as for the times and ſeaſons when we are to teach them, Moſes intimates, that it muſt not be ſeldom, but this work muſt be done frequently, we ſhould embrace all convenient ſeaſons to be dropping ſome portion of Gods word into them,—Thou ſhalt talk of them when thou ſitteſt in thine houſe, and when thou walkeſt by the way, and when thou lieſt down, and when thou riſeſt up.

5. We have the perſons deſcribed whom we are to inſtruct out of the word of God, and they are our Children, Thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy Children: Now under the name of Children are comprehended our Servants, and all others in the Family that need inſtruction, as ſhall be ſhewed more fully afterwards.

Another Scripture wherein God commands us to teach his word unto our Children, we have in the Pſalms of David, Pſal. 78.5, 6, 7. He eſtabliſhed a Teſtimony in Jacob, and appointed a Law in Iſrael, which he commanded our fathers that they ſhould make them known unto their Children, that the Generation to come might know them, even the Children which ſhould be born, who ſhould ariſe and declare them to their Children, that they might ſet their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his Commandments. Here we may obſerve,

1. What it is which Parents are to teach and make known unto their Children, The Law and the Teſtimony; that is, the holy Scriptures, which are often called by this name, the Law and the Teſtimony, as we may ſee Pſal. 19.7. Iſa. 8.16, 20.

2. We have a ſtrict Command and a ſolemn Injunction from God, given unto Parents, to make known the Law and the Teſtimony unto their Children; p. 7He commanded our Fathers that they ſhould make them known unto their Children.

3. We may take notice, that this practice of Parents teaching Gods Laws unto their Children, ſhould be continued from one Generation to another, unto the end of the world, That the Generation to come might know them, even the Children which ſhould be born, who ſhould ariſe and declare unto their Children.

4. Here are three things hinted that Parents ſhould aim at in making known Gods word unto their Children: 1. The bringing their Children to believe and hope in God; That they might ſet their hope in God. 2. The fixing and imprinting in their memories the word and the works of God, And not forget the works of God. 3. The training of them up in the practiſe and obedience of Gods Commandments, But keep his Commandments. The Pſalmiſt ſhews in the eighth verſe what the want or neglect of Parents making known Gods Laws to their Children produceth, Children prove ſtubborn and rebellious, or if they make a profeſſion of Religion, they ſoon diſcover their hearts are not right with God; And might not be as their Fathers, a ſtubborn and rebellious Generation, a Generation that ſet not their heart aright, and whoſe ſpirit was not ſtedfaſt with God.

Beſides theſe Scriptures already mentioned, I might produce ſeveral others where God commands Parents to make known his word unto their Children, as Iſa. 38.19. The Father to the Children ſhall make known thy Truth: By Gods truth, which Fathers are here enjoyned to make known unto their Children, we may underſtand his word, for his word is called his Truth, John 17.17. Sanctifie them through thy Truth, thy Word is Truth. See alſo Deut. 4.8, p. 89, 10. What Nation is there ſo great, that hath Statutes and Judgements ſo righteous as all this Law which I ſet before you this day? Only take heed to thy ſelf, and keep thy Soul diligently, leſt thou forget the things which thine eyes have ſeen, and leſt they depart from thine heart all the dayes of thy life; but teach them thy ſons, and thy ſons ſons, ſpecially the day when thou ſtoodeſt before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord ſaid unto me, Gather the People together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they ſhall live upon the Earth, and that they may teach their Children. Here we may obſerve,

1. That Gods word was given to the Jews for this very end that they might be brought to fear the Lord, and that they might teach his word unto their Children, I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me—and that they may teach their Children.

2. The Lord chargeth them very ſtrictly to teach their Children his works which they had ſeen; but more ſpecially his word which he delivered to them in Horeb: —Only take heed to thy ſelf, and keep thy ſoul diligently—teach them thy ſons, and thy ſons ſons.

To theſe places which I have cited out of the old Teſtament, I will adde one out of the New, wherein God chargeth Parents to train up their Children in the knowledge and obedience of his holy word, Epheſ. 6.4. And ye Fathers provoke not your Children, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: The Apoſtle doth not ſay, And ye Miniſters, as limiting this work to them; but, And ye Fathers—implying, that it is the will of God, that all Parents ſhould bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But ſome may ſay, What is meant by the nurture and admonition of the Lord? p. 9The Greek words are, foreign is rendred Inſtruction, 2 Tim. 3.16. and the inſtruction the Apoſtle ſpeaks of there, is inſtruction in righteouſneſs, ſuch inſtructions as are drawn out of the Scriptures to inſtruct and direct us how to lead a righteous and holy life. It is ſometimes alſo uſed for correction, Heb. 12.5. My ſon deſpiſe not the chaſtening of the Lord; foreign ſignifies ſuch a teaching as fixeth in the mind, and faſteneth upon the heart thoſe inſtructions which are uſeful to inform the judgment and reform the life. To this effect Zanchy interprets this word foreign, Significat admonitionem non ſimpliciter, ſed talem, quâ in mentem pueri ponas & ingeras, quae ſunt illi ad ſalutem neceſſaria. And Camerarius, Significat efficacem admonitionem quâ aliquis ad meliorem mentem revocatur. The Apoſtle adds foreign, to ſhew that thoſe inſtructions and admonitions which we give our Children, muſt not be what our own hearts, or our own wiſdom prompts us to, but they muſt be drawn out of the word of the Lord. The Ethiopick Tranſlation renders the words thus, Enutrite & erudite in Doctrina Dei; bring them up and inſtruct them in the Doctrine of God. The Doctrine of God is an Epithet given the Goſpel, Tit. 2.10. When therefore the Apoſtle exhorts Parents to bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, the ſenſe and meaning of thoſe words is to this effect, That they ſhould labour by inſtruction, correction, and dayly admonitions, to train up their Children in the knowledge, faith, and obedience of the Word of God; and thus the generality of Expoſitors interpret this place: As Beza, Monitis ex verbo Dei petitis; Draw the Counſel and Admonitions which you give your Children, out of the word of God. And Vatablus, Date eis vivendi, p. 10modum, ſecundum doctrinam & monita Chriſti; Give them Rules and Directions how to order their Lives according to the Doctrine and Commandments of Chriſt. Zanch. Ʋt pueri inſtituantur foreign, id eſt, in verâ Dei cegnitione, verâ Pietate, vera que religione doctrinam coeleſtem in liberorum animos ſemper inſtillando; To bring up our Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, is to bring them up in the true knowledge of God, true Piety, and the true Religion, by a continual inſtilling heavenly Doctrine (that is, the word of God) into our Childrens minds. And Piſcator, Erudiant & inſtituant in Doctrina Chriſtiana; Let them bring them up and inſtruct them in the Doctrine of Chriſt. Corn. Lapid. Vos, O Patres, educate illos in Doctrina Chriſti, date eis Chriſtiana monita, quibus bene & Chriſtiane vivendi modum addiſcant; Do you, O Fathers, educate your Children in the Doctrine of Chriſt, give them Chriſtian counſel, that they may learn to live well, and as becometh Chriſtians. Our Engliſh Annotations explain thoſe words, In the admonition of the Lord, thus; Such Admonitions, Inſtructions, and Precepts, as are taken out of the word of God, and are acceptable to him. I might mention Theodoret, Chryſoſtom, (who diſcourſeth very largely on this place about the education of Children in the knowledge of the Scriptures) and divers others, who give the ſame ſence of this Text; but I ſuppoſe it needleſs to adde any more. VVhat is implied in thoſe words, Bring up your Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, may be gathered by comparing this place with 1 Tim. 4.6. where the ſame Apoſtle ſpeaking of Timothy, ſaith, He was nouriſhed up in the words of Faith and good Doctrine; And what thoſe words of Faith and good Doctrine were, in which Timothy was nouriſhed up, we may p. 11learn from 1 Tim. 6.3. Even the words of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Doctrine which is according to Godlineſs. So that to bring up our Children in the nurture and admontion of the Lord, is to nouriſh them up from their Childhood in the knowledge of the word of the Lord, and eſpecially to inſtill ſuch portions of the Goſpel into their minds, as may breed in their hearts faith in Jeſus Chriſt, and may bring them to lead godly and holy Lives.

SECT. 2. Servants as well as Children are to be inſtructed.

IT may be ſome will ſay, Theſe Scriptures which you have produced, ſpeak fully of teaching Gods word unto our Children; but here is nothing ſpoken of inſtructing our Servants: How doth it appear that we are to teach Gods word unto our Servants, as well as unto our Children?

I anſwer:

1. In Deut. 6.7, 8. Where the Lord commands us to lay up his words in our hearts, and to teach them diligently unto our Children, there is added, Thou ſhalt talk of them when thou ſitteſt in thine houſe; and verſ. 9. Thou ſhalt write them upon the poſts of thine houſe, and on thy gates: which Precepts imply thus much, That it is our duty not only to teach our Children, but that we are alſo bound to inſtruct all that go out, and all that come in at our doors, even our whole houſhold, in the knowledge of the word of God.

2. In thoſe fore-quoted Scriptures, wherein the Lord commandeth us to teach his word unto our Children, we are commanded to teach our Servants alſo; for our Servants are comprehended in this p. 12word Children. This will be made evident by conſidering how the word Children is uſed in other places, and the uſe of the Hebrew word foreign and the Greek words foreign and foreign. It is uſual with the Scripture to call thoſe perſons whom we either do, or by our duty are obliged to inſtruct, our Children, 1 John 2.1. My little Children, theſe things I write unto you, that ye ſin not—2 Cor. 6.13. I ſpeak as unto my Children—Pſal. 34.11. Come ye Children, hearken unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. The People of a Nation that are united under one form of Government, are called the Children of that Nation. Thus we read of the Children of Iſrael, and the Children of Judah, 2 Chron. 13.18. The Children of Iſrael were brought under at that time, and the Children of Judah prevailed, becauſe they relied upon the Lord God of their Fathers. The Children of Iſrael ſignifie the ten Tribes that were under Jeroboam's Government; and the Children of Judah, the two Tribes that were under the Government of the houſe of David. Now if all the People that belong to one Nation, are called the Children of that Nation, why may not all the members of a Family be called the Children of that Family? foreign which is the Hebrew word that is uſed for Children, Deut. 6.7. is tranſlated by the Septuagint Zeph. 1.8. Amos 3.1. and in many other places, by foreign, which ſignifieth an Houſe, or a Family: And younger perſons are called foreign as Prov. 7.7. I diſcerned among the youths— where the Hebrew word tranſlated youths, is the ſame with that which is rendred Children, Deut. 6.7. It is alſo of that comprehenſive ſignification, that it includes all Inferiours, and ſuch as are in ſubjection to others, as well as Children, 2 King. 16.7. So Ahaz ſent Meſſengers to Tiglath-Pileſer, ſaying, I am thy p. 13Servant, and thy Son. And the Greek word foreign ſignifies Servants as well as Children. It is rendred a Servant, Mat. 8.13. & Mat. 14.2. It is tranſlated a Child, John 4.51. Mat. 2.16. So alſo foreign which is another word uſed for Children, ſignifieth not only Children in a ſtrict ſenſe, that is, ſuch as come out of our Loyns, but ſuch Perſons as inhabit one and the ſame place, are called foreign, Luk. 13.34. O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, how often would I have gathered thy Children together? —And ſuch as are under the care and inſtruction of one and the ſame perſon, are called by the name of foreign, that mans Children. Thus the Apoſtle writing to the Corinthians, whom he had inſtructed and begotten to Chriſt, calls them foreign, my Sons, 1 Cor. 4.14. As my beloved Sons, I warn you. I may adde this farther, That the Maſter of a Family is called Pater Familias, The Father of the Family: Naamans Servants call their Maſter, Father; 2 Kings 5.13. His Servants came near unto him, and ſaid, My Father—And it is uſual in Scripture for Superiours to call their Servants and Inferiours by the name of Sons or Children. I will produce, of many inſtances which might be named, only theſe two, the one of Joſhua, who calls Achan ſon, Joſh. 7.19. Joſhua ſaid unto Achan, My ſon, give I pray thee glory to the God of Iſrael, and make confeſſion to him. The other of Chriſt, who tells his Diſciples that he was their Lord and Maſter, John 13.13. yet he calls them by the name of Children, John 21.5. Jeſus ſaith unto them, Children have ye any meat?

3. The practice and example of the Servants of God in former Ages, proveth it to be our duty to inſtruct our Servants as well as our Children: If we obſerve what they did, we ſhall find they were careful to train up their houſhold in the knowledge and fear of p. 14God. Thus did Abraham, Gen. 18.19. 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. So alſo did Joſhua, Joſh. 24.15. As for me and my Houſe, we will ſerve the Lord. Cornelius being a devout man himſelf, trained up all his houſe in the fear of God, Act. 10.2. A devout man, and one that feared God, with all his Houſe.

4. In all Religious Exerciſes we find Governours of Families enjoyned to regard with an equal care their Children and their Servants, whether they be Men or Maid Servants. As for inſtance, in the ſanctification of the Sabbath, they are commanded to look after their Servants, and them that ſojourn with them, as well as their Children, Exod. 20.8. Remember the ſabbath to keep it holy—In it thou ſhalt not do any work, thou, nor thy ſon, nor thy daughter, thy manſervant, nor thy maid-ſervant, nor thy ſtranger that is within thy Gates.—So alſo in the celebration of the Feaſt of Tabernacles, the whole Family was to keep the Feaſt unto the Lord, Deut. 16.14. Thou ſhalt rejoyce in thy feaſt, thou, and thy ſon, and thy daughter, thy man ſervant and thy maid ſervant.

5. Inſtruction is as neceſſary for, and will be as beneficial to our Servants as our Children, (as ſhall be ſhewed afterwards) and therefore we ſhould not think much to beſtow our pains in teaching them ſuch things as are neceſſary to ſalvation: Seeing 1. They have immortal Souls, which are as precious to God as our own Souls, or the Souls of our Children, Ezek. 18.4. Behold all Souls are mine.— 2. Jeſus Chriſt hath done as great things for our Servants as he hath done for us or our Children; He died for them as well as for us; He makes the Bond as well as the Free Members of his Body, and Partakers of p. 15his Spirit, 1 Cor. 12.13. By one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been made to drink into one Spirit: He makes no diſtinction of Bond or Free, in the communication of his benefits; but the bond man and the free man are all one in Chriſt, Gal. 3.28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Chriſt Jeſus. 3. God the Father will do as great things for our ſervants, as he will for us or our Children; if they ſeek and ſerve him, he will give them his Spirit, Joel 2.29. And alſo upon the Servants and upon the Handmaids in thoſe days I will pour out my Spirit: He will give them an inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven, Col. 3.22, 24. Servants obey in all things your Maſters according to the fleſh—knowing that of the Lord ye ſhall receive the reward of the inheritance. John 12.26. If any man ſerve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there ſhall alſo my ſervant be — He will give them all good things, Pſal. 34.10. They that ſeek the Lord ſhall not want any good thing. Shall we think much to ſpend a little time, and to take a little pains in teaching our Servants, when God the Father, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt, doth ſuch great things for them?

It is evident from theſe Scriptures which I have produced, that it is our duty to teach Gods word unto our Children; and not only to our Children, but alſo to our Servants: yea, that there are many clear, expreſs, and ſtrict Commandments given to us by the great God for our performance of this Duty. Now how ſhall we be able to appear before God at the day of Judgment, if we live in the neglect of a known Duty, which is ſo often and ſo earneſtly preſſed upon us by God himſelf!

p. 16SECT. 3. The ignorance of Children and Servants proves the neceſſity of Family-Inſtruction. The Evils of Ignorance.

Arg. 2 THe great ignorance that is in our Children and Servants, ſheweth Family-Inſtruction to be a neceſſary duty. Children before they are inſtructed have no knowledge of the things of God, Deut. 31.13. And that their Children which have not known any thing: And not Children only, but the greater part of ſuch as are grown to mans eſtate have little or no knowledge of God, Pſal. 14.2. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of men, to ſee if there were any that did underſtand and ſeek God. And what account doth he give of the Children of men? Rom. 3.11. There is none that underſtandeth, there is none that ſeeketh after God. There is none comparatively, there are ſo few underſtanding men, that they ſeem to be none, compared with the multitude of ignorant perſons; or if it relate to men in an unregenerate condition, they are all deſtitute of the true and ſaving knowledge of God and Jeſus Chriſt. Even in thoſe places, in thoſe families, and in thoſe Churches where perſons injoy great means of knowledge, if inquiry be made what underſtanding in the things of God ſuch perſons have attained unto, there will be found much ignorance in many that have a long time injoyed great advantages to get knowledge. The people of Iſrael had greater means of knowledge than any Nation under Heaven, Pſal. 147.19, 20. He ſheweth his word unto Jacob, his ſtatutes and his judgments unto Iſrael, p. 17he hath not dealt ſo with any nation; yet hear how God complains of Iſraels ignorance. Jer, 4.22. My people is fooliſh, they have not known me, they are fooliſh children, and they have none underſtanding, they are wiſe to do evill, but to do good they have no knowledge. The Hebrews who had excellent teaching a long time, in ſo much that in reſpect of the time and means they might have been Teachers of others, were ſo raw and weak in knowledge, that it was needful for them to be inſtructed in the firſt principles of the Oracles of God, Heb. 5.12. When for the time ye ought to be Teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the firſt principles of the Oracles of God. The Church of Corinth had many eminent Paſtors and Teachers, as Paul, Apollo, &c. and did excel in gifts, 1 Cor. 5.7. In every thing ye are inriched by him in all utterance, and in all knowledge, —ſo that ye come behind in no gift: Yet in this eminent Church there were ſome found that had no knowledge of God, 1 Cor. 15.34. Some have not the knowledge of God, I ſpeak this to your ſhame.

Now in regard there is naturally much blindneſs and ignorance in the minds and underſtandings of our children and Servants; it is neceſſary we ſhould labour and take great pains with them, to bring them to the knowledge of God, by inſtructing them out of Gods word; if we have any regard either to the glory of God, or to our own good, or the good of our Children and Families. For,

1. The permitting of our Families to remain without the knowledge of God, will bring down Gods Judgments upon them: for God is wont to pour out his fury upon thoſe perſons and Families that have no knowledge of God, Jer. 10.25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name. Ignorance p. 18of God was one ground of the Lords controverſie with the Land of Iſrael, Hoſ. 4.1. The Lord hath a Controverſie with the Inhabitants of the Land, becauſe there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land. If where the knowledge of God is wanting in a Nation, God hath a controverſie with that Nation, may we not alſo conclude that God hath a controverſie, and will plead his controverſie with thoſe Families where there is no knowledge of God?

2. Our Children will prove great Croſſes, and bring much grief and ſorrow upon us, if we train them up in ignorance, Prov. 17.25. A fooliſh ſon is a grief to his father, and bitterneſs to her that bare him, Prov. 19.13. A fooliſh ſon is the calamity of his father. And as they will be a great grief to their Parents, who are nurſed up in ignorance, ſo they will walk in ſuch courſes as will pierce themſelves through with many ſorrows, Hoſ. 13.13. The ſorrows of a travelling woman ſhall come upon him, he is an unwiſe ſon.

3. If we do not inſtruct our Children and endeavour to inſtil knowledge into them, they will become uſeleſs perſons, and ſpend their days in vanity, and do no ſervice for God or their Generation. They will be unable to undertake and manage common and eaſie employments, Eccleſ. 10.15. The labour of the fooliſh wearieth every one of them, becauſe he knoweth not how to go to the City. What is more eaſie to find out, than the way to a City, where there is much commerce and frequent going to and fro. Such perſons as are fooliſh and indiſcreet, though they labour and toil in common and eaſie things, as eaſie as to find the way to a City, they can bring nothing to any effect: And as fooliſh children will be unable to manage any employments of themſelves, ſo ſo they are unfit to be employed by others, Prov. 26.6. p. 19He that ſendeth a meſſage by the hand of a fool, cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

4. If our Children and Servants be not taught to know the Lord, they cannot live godly lives, but will be alienated from the life of God, Epheſ. 4.18. Having the underſtanding darkned, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, becauſe of the blindneſs of their heart. They will be ſo far from leading godly lives, if they be brought up in ignorance of God, that they will prove vitious perſons; when the Iſraelites neglected the knowledge of God, they became a ſinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, Iſa. 1.3, 4. Iſrael doth not know, my people doth not conſider: Ah ſinful nation! A people laden with iniquity, a ſeed of evil doers, Children that are corrupters; they have forſaken the Lord, they have provoked the holy One of Iſrael to anger, they are gone away backward. The Apoſtle ranketh ſuch as are without underſtanding among haters of God, and the chiefeſt of ſinner, Rom. 1.30, 31. If our Children and Servants be deſtitute of the knowledge of God, they will be eaſily drawn to the vileſt and moſt abominable ſins: ſuch as Idolatry, Gal. 4.8. When ye knew not God, ye did ſervice to them which by nature are no Gods: Blaſphemy, Pſal. 74.18. The fooliſh people have blaſphemed thy Name: Perſecution of the people of God, ſo far as to kill and deſtroy them, Joh. 16.2, 3. They ſhall put you out of the Synagogues, yea the time cometh that whoſoever killeth you, will think he doth God ſervice; and theſe things will they do unto you, becauſe they have not known the Father nor me: Adultery, Prov. 7.7, 10, 21, 22, 25. I beheld among the ſimple ones, I diſcerned among the youths, a young man void of underſtanding, and behold there met him a woman with the attire of an Harlot—With much fair ſpeech ſhe cauſed him to yield, p. 20with the flattering of her lips ſhe forced him; he goeth after her ſtraight-way, as an Ox goeth to the ſlaughter—till a dart ſtrike through his Liver, as a Bird haſteth to the ſnare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. Such as have no inſtruction, or being inſtructed do not obey the counſels that are given to them, are in the ready way to run into all kind of evil, Prov. 5.13, 14. I have not obeyed the voice of my Teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that inſtructed me; I was almoſt in all evil, in the midſt of the Congregation and the Aſſembly. If we tremble at the thoughts of having our Children prove Blaſphemers, Idolaters, Adulterers, Perſecutors of the people of God, and to run into all kind of evil, let us endeavour to prevent theſe great evils, by training them up in the knowledge and fear of the Lord.

5. If we bring up our Children in ignorance, they can have no fellowſhip with, or enjoyment of God, who is the chiefeſt Good: For, God is Light, and in him is no darkneſs at all, 1 Joh. 1.5. And perſons that have no knowledge are ſaid to be in darkneſs, Epheſ. 5.8. Ye were ſometimes darkneſs: And there can be no communion between Light and Darkneſs, 2 Cor. 6.14. What Communion hath Light with Darkneſs? Now what will all the good things which we give our Children whilſt we live, or which we ſhall leave them when we die, avail them, if they have no enjoyment of God, who is the chiefeſt Good?

6. Without knowledge our Children and Servants cannot obtain ſalvation, but muſt periſh eternally, Pſal. 5.5. The fooliſh ſhall not ſtand in thy ſight. Job 36.12. They ſhall die without knowledge. Prov. 2.16. The man that wandereth out of the way of underſtanding ſhall remain in the Congregation of the dead: That is, he ſhall be caſt into Hell, and abide there p. 21among the Devils and damned perſons for ever. So it is expounded by R. Sel. in caetu gehennae. And Menoch, Videtur ſenſus eſſe cum Daemonibus futuros & cum impiis hominibus ad aeterna ſupplicia …amnatis: That the Hebrew word which is here tranſlated dead, ſignifieth Hell, may be gathered from Prov. 9.18. He knoweth not that the dead are there, and that her gueſts are in the depths of Hell.

7. Without knowledge our Children will not only be undone in the world to come, but they are likely by their folly and indiſcretion to undo themſelves and their Families in this world, either by idleneſs, Eccl. 4.5. The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own fleſh, Prov. 24.30, 31. Or by prodigality, Prov. 21.20. There is a treaſure to be deſired, and Oyl in the dwelling of the Wiſe, but the fooliſh ſpendeth it up: Or by Surety ſhip, Prov. 17.18. A man void of underſtanding ſtriketh hands, and becometh Surety in the preſence of his friend: Or by Law-ſuits, Prov. 18.6. A fools lips enter into contention: Or by ſpeaking againſt perſons in Authority, Eccleſ. 10.12. The lips of a fool will ſwallow up himſelf, Prov. 10.14. The mouth of the fooliſh is near deſtruction. Or by ſome other raſh and indiſcreet carriages.

8. Inſtructing our Children and Servants out of the word of God, will remove their ignorance, and make them of fooliſh and ſimple to become wiſe and underſtanding perſons, and ſo conſequently will prevent all the afore-mentioned evils which will accrue both to us and them, if they be trained up in ignorance, Prov. 12.1. Whoſo loveth inſtruction loveth knowledge, Prov. 8.33. Hear inſtruction and be wiſe. Pſal. 19 7. The Teſtimony of the Lord is ſure, making wiſe the ſimple. Prov. 1.1, 4. The Proverbs of Solomon—to give ſubtilty to the ſimple, and to the young p. 22man knowledge and diſcretion. Pſal. 119.130. The entrance of thy word giveth light, it giveth underſtanding to the ſimple.

SECT. 4. The corruption that is in children and ſervants, proveth Family-inſtruction to be a neceſſary duty.

Arg. 3 THere is not only much blindneſs and ignorance in the minds of our children and ſervants, but they have alſo very ſinful and corrupt hearts. That we may ſee and underſtand what ſin and corruption is bound up in the hearts of our children and ſervants, let us conſider what the Scripture ſaith of the hearts of the ſons of men. The heart of man by nature is void and deſtitute of all good, Rom. 7.18. I know that in me, that is, in my fleſh, dwelleth no good thing: and full of evil, Eccleſ. 9.3. The heart of the ſons of men is full of evil.— Yea, the ſeeds of the fouleſt ſins, ſuch as Murder, Adultery, Blaſphemy, and the like, are in the heart of man, which will break out if they be left to themſelves, Matth. 15.19. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, falſe witneſs, blaſphemies. The inclinations of the heart to ſin, even to the worſt of ſins, are ſtrong and violent; ſo that the heart is not only ſet upon evil, but fully ſet to do evil, Eccleſ. 8.11. The heart of the ſons of men is fully ſet in them to do evil. There is ſuch a bottomleſs depth of ſin in their hearts, that we cannot fathom it, it is hard to expreſs, yea, hard to underſtand how wicked and ſinful the heart of man is: Jer. 17.9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and deſperately wicked, who can know it? And this corruption of the heart, begins to work and p. 23diſcover it ſelf very early, even whilſt we are young, Gen. 8.21. The imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth: Iſai. 48.8. I knew that thou wouldeſt deal very treacherouſly, and waſt called a tranſgreſſour from the womb.

Now ſeeing there is ſo much ſin and corruption in the hearts of our children and ſervants, from hence it will follow, that it is our duty to train them up in the knowledge and obedience of the Word of God, whereby their hearts may be purified and ſanctified; and that it is neceſſary that we ſhould imploy all the skill and ſtrength that we have in this work: for,

1. Though their hearts be exceeding ſinful, as we have heard before; yet if we inſtruct them in the knowledge, and train them up in the obedience of the Word of God, this will be a means to purifie and ſanctifie their hearts, and to reform their lives: for the word of God hath a ſanctifying vertue in it, John 17.17. Sanctifie them through thy Truth, thy Word is Truth: And being hid in the heart, it will cleanſe the heart, and keep a man from ſinning againſt God, John 15.3. Now are ye clean through the word which I have ſpoken unto you. Pſal. 119.11. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not ſin againſt thee. Obeying and practiſing the word, will purifie the heart, 1 Pet. 2.22. Ye have purified your Souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit.— If we can bring our Children to take heed to their ways, and to frame them according to the word of God, we need not doubt but this will cleanſe their hearts and lives, Pſal. 119.9. Wherewithal ſhall a young man cleanſe his way? By taking heed thereto, according to thy word.

2. If we ſuffer our Children and Servants to live p. 24without inſtruction, and do not labour to bring them acquainted with God, and with his holy word, there is no hope that they ſhould be reclaimed from their ſins, Hoſ. 5.4. They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God, for the ſpirit of whoredoms is in the midſt of them, and they have not known the Lord. The Prophet gives this reaſon why they would not frame their doings to turn to the Lord, They did not know the Lord, and the ſpirit of whoredoms was in them. By the ſpirit of whoredoms we may underſtand ſtrong and habitual inclinations to ſins of uncleanneſs, and alſo to Idolatry, which is ſpiritual Adultery. When the mind of a man is vehemently carried out after a thing, and theſe impetuous motions continue and reſide with him, the Scripture calls this by the name of a Spirit, as Numb. 5.14. The Spirit of Jealouſie. From this paſſage of the Prophet Hoſea, we may draw this concluſion, As long as perſons who have ſtrong and habitual inclinations to that which is evil (which is the caſe of all Children and grown perſons that are in an unregenerate condition) continue ignorant of God, there is no hope that they ſhould frame their doings to turn unto the Lord. Our Children and Servants will be ſo far from reforming their lives without inſtruction, that as long as they remain ignorant of God, they will grow worſe and worſe, Jer. 9.3. They proceed from evil to evil, and know not me ſaith the Lord. 2 Tim. 3.13. Evil men and ſeducers ſhall wax worſe and worſe.

3. If we ſuffer our Children and Servants to walk after their own hearts luſt, we ſhall undo them for ever; for this is the broad way that leads to deſtruction, for a man to walk after the luſts of his own heart, and we ſhall alſo bring down Gods Judgments upon our ſelves, and cauſe his Judgments to p. 25reſt upon our Families for many Generations, 1 Sam. 3.13, 14. I will judge his houſe for ever, for the iniquity which he knoweth, becauſe his Sons made themſelves vile, and he reſtrained them not; and therefore I have ſworn unto the houſe of Eli, That the iniquity of Eli's houſe ſhall not be purged with Sacrifice nor Offering for ever.

4. We had need employ all the skill and ſtrength that we have in teaching and educating our Children in the knowledge and fear of the Lord, becauſe it is a difficult work to change their Natures, and to ſubdue their Wills to Gods Will. Zophar compares man to a wild Aſſes Colt, Job 11.12. For vain man would be wiſe, though man be born like a wild Aſſes Colt. The difficulty of taming a wild Aſs, his untractable ranging diſpoſition, is elegantly ſet forth Job 39.7, 8. He ſcorneth the multitude of the City, neither regardeth he the crying of the Driver, the range of the mountains is his paſture, and he ſearcheth after every green thing. Such a wild unruly Creature is man, and that from his Birth: Man is born like a wild Aſſes Colt. If he be not tamed whilſt he is young, he will not regard the voice of his Teachers, though multitudes labour with him one after another, it will be a difficult matter to bring him to any good order. If our Children have added to their ſinful natures, a cuſtom in ſinful courſes, it will be as hard to reclaim them as to change the Leopards ſpots, or to make the Ethiopian (who is naturally black) to become white, Jer. 13.25. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his ſpots? Then may ye alſo do good, who are accuſtomed to do evil.

p. 26SECT. 5. Family-Inſtruction is neceſſary for the performing of Family Duties.

Arg. 4 FAmily-Duties cannot be performed to the glory of God and the edification of our Families without Family-Inſtruction; and this proves the great obligation that lieth upon us to train up our Families in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. I will inſtance in ſeveral Duties which cannot be performed without Family—Inſtruction.

1. Prayer is a Duty to be performed in all Families; the neglect of it is ſuch a great ſin, that God ranks thoſe Families among the Heathen that do not call upon him, and threatens to pour out his fury upon them, 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 more than wrath or anger, it is the higheſt degree of anger; God is not only angry, but he is filled with fury againſt, and will pour out his fury upon thoſe Families that do not call upon him. Now how ſhall our Children or Servants be able to pray without inſtruction? Or how are they like to be edified by joyning in Family-Prayer, if they be ignorant of that God to whom we pray, and of Jeſus Chriſt, in whoſe name our prayers are offered up to God, and of thoſe things which are asked of God, when we pray to him in his Sons name. That knowledge is neceſſarily required to inable us to pray, and alſo to joyn in prayer ſo as to receive edification, (and if knowledge, then alſo inſtruction, which breedeth knowledge) is evident from ſuch Scriptures as theſe, Rom. p. 2710.14. How then ſhall they call on him in whom they have not believed, and how ſhall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how ſhall they hear without a Preacher? 1 Cor. 14, 15. I will pray with the Spirit, and will pray with the underſtanding alſo, Job 37.19. Teach us what we ſhall ſay unto him, for we can not order our ſpeech by reaſon of darkneſs. Ignorant worſhip is not accepted of God; Chriſt reproved the Samaritans for worſhipping they knew not what, and tells them, that ſuch as expect Life and Salvation from God, muſt worſhip him underſtandingly, John 4.22. Ye worſhip ye know not what, we know what we worſhip, for ſalvation is of the Jews. If they be wholly ignorant, when they are joyning in holy Duties, as in prayer, or in praiſing God, though he that performs the Duties, performeth them well, and in a ſpiritual manner; yet ſuch as are ignorant of God, and the things of God, will not be edified by thoſe Duties, 1 Cor. 14.16, 17. When thou ſhalt bleſs with the Spirit, how ſhall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned ſay, Amen; ſeeing he underſtandeth not what thou ſayeſt? For thou verily giveſt thanks well, but the other is not edified. The Apoſtle ſpeaketh here of giving thanks in an unknown Tongue, but though we uſe a known Tongue in prayer, or praiſing God, yet if our Families have no knowledge of God, they will receive little or no edification by joyning with us, when we pray to, or praiſe the Lord. If we do not train up our Families in the fear, as well as in the knowledge of God, though they ſhould learn to pray, their prayers will avail nothing with God, John 9.31. Now we know that God heareth not Sinners; but if any man be a worſhipper of God, and doth his will, him he heareth. Iſa. 1.15. And when ye ſpread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes; yea, when ye make p. 28many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.

2. It is the Duty of every Member of our Families to praiſe the Lord, and to give him thanks for his mercies, Pſal. 145.2. Let all fleſh bleſs his holy Name for ever and ever. Pſal. 150.6. Let every thing that hath breath praiſe the Lord. 1 Theſ. 5.18. In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Chriſt Jeſus concerning you. It is a duty to be performed every day, Pſal. 145.2. Every day will I bleſs thee. Pſal. 92.1, 2. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to ſing praiſes unto thy Name, O moſt High; to ſhew forth thy loving kindneſs in the morning, and thy faithfulneſs every night. It is a duty to be performed not only by our ſelves when we are alone, but all the members in the Family ſhould joyn together in bleſſing and praiſing God, Pſal. 135.19. Bleſs the Lord, O houſe of Aaron. Pſal. 34.3. O magnifie the Lord with me, and let us exalt his Name together. Deut. 14.26. Thou ſhalt rejoyce, thou and thy houſhold. Now how can our Families bleſs and praiſe God for his mercies, if they be not taught that all the good things they have, come from God; and alſo taught who that God is that gives them all good things, and how and in what manner they ſhould expreſs their thankfulneſs unto him? We find that when the Scripture ſpeaketh of praiſing God, it often intimates that we ſhould praiſe him with underſtanding: Pſal. 47.6, 7. Sing praiſes to God, ſing praiſes; ſing praiſes unto our King, ſing praiſes: For God is the King of the Earth, ſing ye praiſes with underſtanding. 1 Cor. 14.15. I will ſing with the Spirit, and I will ſing with the underſtanding alſo: Which implieth, that the Lord cannot be praiſed by the ſons of men in an acceptable manner, if they be not endued with knowledge and underſtanding.

p. 293. It is our Duty to exhort our Children and Servants to flee from ſin, and to follow after Righteouſneſs, to love, and fear, and ſerve the Lord, and to walk in his ways, &c. Heb. 3.13. Exhort one another daily, while it is called to day, leſt any of you be hardened through the deceitfulneſs of ſin. Now if we would have our exhortations to take place, we muſt joyn Doctrine or Inſtruction with our Exhortations. 2 Tim. 4.2. Exhort with all long ſuffering and doctrine. If we do not inſtruct them wherein the nature of thoſe Duties lieth unto which we exhort them, and how and in what manner they ſhould be performed, we ſhall be like thoſe that beat the air, our Exhortations will be of no advantage to them.

4. It is our Duty to reprove our Children and Servants when we ſee them negligent in their duty, or committing any ſin againſt God, Lev. 19.17. Thou ſhalt in any wiſe rebuke thy Neighbour, and not ſuffer ſin upon him. If we muſt rebuke a Neighbour, then much more thoſe of our own houſe, when they ſin againſt the Lord. Now inſtruction makes way for reproof; one word of reproof to a man inſtructed with wiſdom and underſtanding, will do more good than an hundred ſtripes will do towards the reformation of an ignorant fooliſh perſon: Prov. 17.10. A reproof entreth more into a wiſe man, than an hundred ſtripes into a fool. We ſhall find it a very difficult matter to faſten a reproof upon our Children and Servants, ſo as to make it take place, and do them good, if they be without underſtanding. The like may be ſaid of other Duties which we ought to perform towards our Children and Servants, they cannot be performed ſucceſsfully if we ſuffer our Families to be without Inſtruction.

p. 30SECT. 6. We have Gods example for teaching our Children and Servants.

Arg. 5 GOD teacheth and inſtructeth his Children and Servants, and therefore it is our Duty to teach and inſtruct our Children and our Servants; for we ought to be followers of God, Epheſ. 5.1. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children. In order to our imitation of God in this practice, Let us conſider,

1. Who they are whom God teacheth; all his Children and Servants from the greateſt of them to the leaſt; he leaves not one of them without inſtruction, Iſa. 54.13. And all thy Children ſhall be taught of the Lord: Jer. 31.34. They ſhall all know me, from the leaſt of them to the greateſt of them, ſaith the Lord. Deut. 33.3. Yea, he loved the people; all his Saints are in thy hand, and they ſat down at thy feet; every one ſhall receive of thy words. So ſhould we teach and inſtruct every one of our Children and Servants, from the leaſt to the greateſt.

2. God begins to teach his Children betimes: Pſal. 71.17. O God thou haſt taught me from my youth. So ſhould we begin early with our Children, 2 Tim. 3.15. From a Child thou haſt known the holy Scriptures.

3. God teacheth his children and ſervants knowledge, Pſal. 94.10. He that teacheth man knowledge, ſhall not he know? He teacheth them to know himſelf Jer. 24.7. I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: And to know and believe in his Son Jeſus Chriſt, John 6.45. It is written in the Prophets, And they ſhall be all taught of God: every man therefore p. 31that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me. And to love one another, 1 Theſ. 4.9. Ye your ſelves are taught of God to love one another. He inſtructs them to ſhun and to avoid evil company, and evil examples, Iſa. 8.11. For the Lord ſpake thus unto me with a ſtrong hand, and inſtructed me that I ſhould not walk in the way of this people. He teacheth them by his grace to deny all ungodlineſs and to live righteous and holy lives, Tit. 2.12. The grace of God that bringeth ſalvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us, That denying ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly, in this preſent world. He inſtructs them how to order and manage the works of their Callings with Wiſdom and Diſcretion, Iſa. 28.24, 25, 26. Doth the Plowman plow all day to ſow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not caſt abroad the Fitches, and ſcatter the Cummin, and eaſt in the principal Wheat, and the appointed Barley, and the Rye in their place? For his God doth inſtruct him to diſcretion, and doth teach him. He inſtructs them how they ſhould walk, and what they ſhould ſay and do, and how they ſhould order their Converſations aright in all things, Pſal. 32.8. I will inſtruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou ſhalt go, Exod. 4.12, 15. I will be with thy mouth, and will teach thee what thou ſhalt ſay—and will teach you what ye ſhall do. 2 Chron. 32.22. The Lord guided them on every ſide. Pſal. 107.7. He led them forth by the right way. He ſhews them the Path of Life, and guides them in the way to Heaven: Pſal. 16.11. Thou wilt ſhew me the Path of Life: Pſal. 73.24. Thou ſhalt guide me with thy counſel, and afterwards receive me unto glory. Herein we ſhould imitate God, we ſhould teach our Children and ſervants to know God, and his Son Jeſus p. 32Chriſt, and to believe in Chriſt, and to love one another, and to forſake evil company, and to deny ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, and to live ſoberly, and righteouſly, and godly, in this preſent world: We ſhould inſtruct them how to follow their Calling, and how to ſpeak and walk, and to order their converſations aright in all things, we ſhould ſhew them the path of Life, and guide them therein, that they may obtain eternal ſalvation in the world to come.

4. God teacheth his children and ſervants out of his holy Word, Pſal. 94.12. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſteneſt, O Lord, and teacheſt him out of thy Law. The Lord builds up all his houſhold in knowledge, faith, and holineſs, upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles; that is, the Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures by the Prophets and Apoſtles, Epheſ. 2.19, 20. Ye are of the Houſhold of God, and are built upon the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief Cornerſtone. He inſtructs penitent perſons by making known his word to them: Prov. 1.23. Turn you at my Reproof; behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. David deſcribes Gods teaching his people Iſrael thus, Pſal. 147.19. He ſheweth his word unto Jacob, his ſtatutes and his judgments unto Iſrael. In like manner, when we teach our children and ſervants, we ſhould teach them out of the word of God, and eſtabliſh them in the knowledge, belief, and practice, of the Doctrine delivered in the Scriptures by the Prophets, and Apoſtles.

5. The Lord condeſcends to teach ſuch as are of a froward and perverſe diſpoſition: The Children of Iſrael were a perverſe generation, Deut. 32.5. They are a perverſe and crooked generation: yet the Lord p. 33taught and inſtructed Iſrael: Verſ. 10. He found him in a deſart Land, and in the waſte howling Wilderneſs; he led him about, he inſtructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye: And this he did notwithſtanding they were a very froward people, as Moſes tells us again, verſ. 20. They are a very froward Generation. In like manner, though our Children or Servants ſhould be of a froward perverſe ſpirit, yet we ſhould not forbear inſtructing them.

6. The Lord imprints and faſtens in the minds and hearts of his Children and Servants thoſe Inſtructions which he giveth them; hence he is ſaid to ſeal their inſtruction, Job 33.14. He openeth the ears of men, and ſealeth their inſtruction. So ſhould we endeavour to imprint thoſe Inſtructions which we give our Families, upon their minds, that they may retain them in their memories as long as they live.

SECT. 7. Mothers, as well as Fathers, muſt inſtruct their Children.

Queſt. IT may be ſome will here demand, Is it not the Duty of Mothers, as well as of Fathers, to teach their Children?

Anſw. Although the Scripture doth forbid Women teaching in publick Aſſemblies, 1 Cor. 14.34. Let your women keep ſilence in the Churches, for it is not permitted unto them to ſpeak, but they are commanded to be under obedience, as alſo ſaith the Law: 1 Tim. 2.11, 12. Let the woman learn in ſilence with all ſubjection—But I ſuffer not a woman to teach, nor to uſurp authority over the man, but to be in ſilence. Yet it doth allow them to teach their Children and Servants; and though this work doth lie chiefly upon Fathers p. 34to teach Gods word unto their Children, as appeareth by the ſpecial charge that is given to them, Epheſ. 6.4. Iſa. 38.19. Pſal. 78.5. yet it is the duty of Mothers alſo to inſtruct and watch over their Children and Servants. For the proving hereof, and the ſtirring up of Mothers to joyn with, and to be helpful to their Husbands, in inſtructing their Children and Servants, I ſhall propoſe to them theſe following Conſiderations:

1. It hath been the practice of godly women in former times, to inſtruct their Children in the knowledge of the Scriptures, which the holy Ghoſt hath left upon record, as a monument of their praiſe, as long as the world ſhall continue, and as a Pattern to be followed by all women that fear God. Solomons mother, though ſhe was a Queen, did not look upon it as a work beneath her, to inſtruct her Son; but taught him a Prophecy containing excellent Leſſons concerning Chaſtity and Temperance, defending the Oppreſſed, &c. Prov. 31.1. The words of King Lemuel, the Prophecy which his mother taught him: What this Prophecy was that his mother taught him, is ſet down in the following verſes; Solomon was inſtructed by his Father, Prov. 4.3, 4. I was my Fathers Son— he taught me alſo; yet Solomon's mother did not think her ſelf excuſed from teaching her Son, becauſe his Father inſtructed him, but ſhe joyn'd with her husband, and teacheth him a Prophecy. Now if thoſe women who hauehave godly Husbands that inſtruct their Families, muſt alſo inſtruct their Children; how much more is it the duty of thoſe women who have careleſs and negligent Husbands that regard not their Families, to be diligent in teaching their Children and Servants? Another example we have in Lois and Eunice; Lois being converted to the p. 35Chriſtian Religion, trains up her Daughter Eunice in the faith of Chriſt; Eunice being inſtructed in the faith of Chriſt, inſtructs her Son Timothy, 2 Tim. 1.9.

2. Children are commanded to hearken to; and not forſake the inſtruction which their Mothers (as well as which their Fathers) give them out of the Law of God, Prov. 1.8. My Son hear the inſtruction of thy Father, and forſake not the Law of thy Mother; which implies, That Mothers, as well as Fathers, are to teach Gods Laws to their Children.

3. It is mentioned as one of the Vertues of a vertuous woman, That ſhe looketh well to the ways of her Houſhold, Prov. 31.27. and this overſight that ſhe takes of the ways of her Houſhhold, conduceth ſo much to the good of her Children, that it will cauſe them to bleſs God for her as long as they live, as the next verſe implieth, Her Children ariſe up, and call her bleſſed, verſ. 28. And the Apoſtle Paul adviſeth elder women to be Teachers of good things, Tit. 2.3. And he tells them both whom they ſhould teach, younger women, and what Leſſons they ſhould teach younger women, verſ. 4.5. which is to be underſtood of inſtilling thoſe Principles into their Children and Maid Servants, how they ſhould demean themſelves when God ſhall bring them into a married eſtate, and alſo of inſtructing their Neighbours and Acquaintance when they viſit them, and have occaſion to confer with them.

4. The Mother as well as the Father doth concur to the conveying of a ſinful nature unto their Children, Pſal. 51.5. In ſin did my Mother conceive me: And therefore Mothers ought by their prayers, and p. 36tears, and inſtructions, and the uſe of all good means, to endeavour after the Converſion and Regeneration of their Children, as well as their Fathers.

5. Children are very apt to follow their Mothers example, in ſo much that it's become a Proverb, As is the Mother, ſo is the Daughter; and the truth of this Proverb is ſuch, that God himſelf alloweth of it, Ezek. 16.44. Behold every one that uſeth Proverbs ſhall uſe this Proverb againſt thee, As is the Mother, ſo is the Daughter. So that if Mothers live religiouſly, and ſhew a good example to their Children, and inſtruct them out of Gods word, there is great hope that their Children will become Religious alſo. It is remarkable both amongſt the good and evil Kings that were in Judah and Iſrael, that the Scripture doth frequently record their Mothers names; as for good Kings, we may ſee 1 Kings 22.42, 43. 2 Kings 18.2, 3. and 22.12. And for evil Kings, 2 King. 8.26, 27. 1 Kings 15.2, 3. which ſheweth that the Mothers example and carriage amongſt her Children, hath a great influence upon them, to make them either good or evil.

6. Mothers have greater opportunities to be inſtilling good things into their Children, than their Fathers, for they are oftener with them, eſpecially whilſt they are young, as they are dreſſing or undreſſing them, or giving them meat, or ſitting with them at work, or walking abroad with them, they ſhould be talking with them of the word of God, Deut. 6.6, 7. And every one is to do good according to the opportunities that God puts into their hands, Gal. 6.10.

7. Hereby Mothers may do great ſervice for p. 37Chriſt, in training up Children for the Lord: All the good that ſuch Children ſhall do in their generation, ſhall redound to the Mothers Comfort and Reward. The Apoſtle mentioneth the bringing up of Children (by which is meant bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord) amongſt the firſt and chiefeſt good works which women are able to do in their generation, 1 Tim. 5.10. Well reported of for good works, if ſhe have brought up Children.—

8. What ſervice women do for Chriſt, he takes as kindly as he doth what men do for him, when there was a woman poured upon his head a Box of pretious Oyntment, though the Diſciples had indignation, yet the Lord Jeſus took it well from her, and ſaid that this act of the woman ſhould be had in remembrance, and be ſpoken of to her praiſe, as long as the Goſpel ſhould be preached in the world, Mat. 26.13. Verily I ſay unto you, Whereſoever this Goſpel ſhall be preached in the whole world, there alſo this that this woman hath done, ſhall be told for a memorial of her. If you that are Mothers teach Gods word to your Children, and labour to bring them up in the knowledge and fear of God, the Lord Jeſus will take this more kindly from you, than he took this box of pretious Oyntment from this woman, which anointed his body againſt his burial: And that may be evidenced ſeveral ways:

1. Chriſt was more pleaſed with thoſe that minded his word, than with thoſe that were at the coſt and trouble to provide for his Body; as appears from the caſe of Mary and Martha, Mary ſat at Jeſus feet, and heard his word, but Martha was cumbred with much ſerving, Luk. 10.38, 39. Hereupon Martha p. 38complains to Chriſt, that her ſiſter had left her to ſerve alone, and deſires him to bid Mary to help her; but Chriſt commends Mary's choice, and her work, who was employed about his word, above Martha's, who was employed in preparing food for his Body, and thoſe that were with him, Verſ. 40, 41, 42.

2. The Lord Jeſus loves your Childrens Souls as well as he loves his own Body; he gave his own Body to be crucified to ſave your Childrens Souls; And therefore doubtleſs it is as acceptable to ſee you endeavouring to ſave your Childrens Souls, by inſtructing and teaching them out of his holy Word, as it was to have his Body anointed with pretious Ointment.

3. The Name of God and Chriſt is like pretious Ointment, Cant. 1.3. Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth: — Yea it is more precious than any Ointment in the World. And when you bring your Children acquainted with the Name of God and Chriſt, by inſtructing them out of the Word of God, you convey that to them which is beyond all the pretious Ointment in the world.

4. The Ointment that was poured on Chriſts Body did bur little, if any thing, advantage the body of Chriſt, he accepted it not ſo much for the advantage he had by it, as he did for the Faith and Love which the Woman manifeſted in this work. But by inſtructing your Children out of the Word of God, you ſhall greatly promote the good and welfare of their pretious Souls.

p. 39If the Lord Jeſus did ſo kindly accept the Womans anointing his body with precious Ointment, that he recorded her praiſe in the Goſpel, and will have the Memorial thereof preſerved in all Ages throughout the whole World: Then doubt not, you that are Mothers, that if you inſtruct your Children in the knowledge of his Word, but he will accept this very kindly at your hands, and cauſe this good Work of yours to be had in eternal Remembrance.