A Treatise of Family Instruction, Chapter 3 · Section 16
SECT. 16. Six Arguments for diligence in inſtructing our Families.
Direct. 16 IF you would carry on the work of Family-Inſtruction with ſucceſs, ply it with diligence: Do not perform it in a ſlight, careleſs, cuſtomary manner, but ſet your hearts to it, and do it with all the skill and might that you have. The Lord doth not only command us to teach our Children the Scriptures, but he requireth us to do this work with diligence: Deut. 6.7. Thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy Children—This work is a good work, and every good work muſt be followed with diligence: 1 Tim. 5.10. If ſhe have followed diligently every good work: The Apoſtle ſpeaketh there of Widows; now if Widows, whoſe condition is oft attended with many difficulties and incumbrances, muſt follow every good work with diligence, how much more are they who have greater abilities and opportunities for doing good works, than deſolate Widows, obliged to be diligent therein. We read of David, that when he prepared Materials to build the Temple, he did it with all his might; 1 Chron. 29.2. I have prepared with all my might for the Houſe of my God, the Gold for things to be made of Gold, and Silver for things of Silver.—The building up of our Children and Servants a ſpiritual Houſe for the Lord, is as great and acceptable a work as the building of the material Temple, and thefore we ſhould ſet upon it with all our might. To quicken your diligence herein, conſider
1. You know not how ſhort a time you have to live with your Families, and you can do nothing for them when you are in the Grave; and therefore what you ſee neceſſary to be done for them by way of inſtruction before you die, do it with all your might; Eccleſ. 9.10. Whatſoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wiſdom in the grave, whither thou goeſt.
2. To ſet your hearts to this work, and do it with your might, is the way to proſper in what you take in hand; 2 Chron. 31.21. In every work that he began in the ſervice of the Houſe of God, and in the Law, and in the Commandments, to ſeek his God, he did it with all his heart, and proſpered.
3. There is a curſe pronounced againſt them that do the work of the Lord negligently, Jer. 28.10. Curſed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully, or (as it is in the Margin) negligently.
4. This work is to be done out of love to Jeſus Chriſt, John 21.15. Loveſt thou me? Feed my Lambs. Now our love to Chriſt muſt not be a cold and weak love, but ſuch a love as muſt engage all our hearts and ſtrengths in his ſervice: Deut. 6.5. Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy ſoul, and with all thy might.
5. Conſider how diligent Satan and wicked men are to do evil, and to draw others to ſin. Some wicked men are ſo eager of doing miſchief, that they cannot ſleep in the night, if they have done no miſchief in the day time: Prov. 4.16. They ſleep not except they have done miſchief, and their ſleep is taken away unleſs they cauſe ſome to fall. Solomon deſcribeth the great diligence of Harlots to corrupt young men, Prov. 7.12, 13, 15, 21. Now is ſhe without, now in the ſtreets, and lieth in wait at every corner, ſo ſhe caught him, and kiſſed him, and with an impudent face ſaid unto him,—Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to ſeek thy face, and I have found thee, &c. With much fair ſpeech ſhe cauſed him to yield, with the flattering of her lips ſhe forced him. Satan is no leſs active and diligent than his Inſtruments to tempt to ſin, and deſtroy mens Souls, 1 Pet. 5.8. And ſhall not this provoke us to uſe all diligence to do good, and to ſave their Souls that are under our charge?
6. After there is ſome good work wrought in their hearts, they will be in danger of falling into an hardned frame of Spirit, if we do not with great diligence inſtruct and exhort them to ſhun that which is evil, and to follow after holineſs. Heb. 3.12, 13. Take heed Brethren, leſt there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God: but exhort one another daily, whilſt it is called to day, leſt any of you be hardned through the deceitfulneſs of ſin.