A Godly Form of Household Government, Part 5
The dutie of Children towards their Parents.
THis dutie of children, as it may be gathered out of the holy Scriptures, consisteth in fiue points.
1. First, that they aEph 6. 1. 2. 3. Colos. 3. 20.obey their parents, and do serue them, and also do bLeuit. 19. 3. Num. 12. 14.feare, louelove, honour, and reuerence them; not onelyonly in word and deed, but in their hearts and minds also.
2. Secondly, that they follow their good precepts and examples of life.
3. Thirdly, that they patiently take cPro. 15. 5. 1. Tim. 5. 4. Mat. 15. 4. 5. 6correction at their hands.
4. Fourthly, that they make continuall and hearty prayers to God for them.
5. And lastly, that they do relieue, maintaine, and nourish their parents, in case they shall fall Gen. 47. 12.into pouertie or decay.
The summe and effect of all which, is as followeth.
AS the Lord our God, hath made and created children, through their parents: so hath he cast and made them subiect vnderunder the power Fathers and mothers are to their children in Gods stead. Exod. 20. 12. Deut. 5. 15. By honour is meant all kind of duty which children owe to their parents.and authority of their parents, to obey and ferue them in his stead; saying, Honour thy father and thy mother: which honour consisteth not in bowing the knee, or putting off the cap, or giuing to their parents the vpper-hand onelyonly: but in this, that they louelove them with all their hearts, that they feare and dread them, that they cheerfully do their commandements, will, and pleasure; that they seeke their worship, credite, profit, and preferment in all things lawfull: and if need require, that they giuegive their liues for them: remembring that they are their parents goods and possessions; and that they owe to them, euen their owne selues, and all that they are able to do; yea, and more then they are able.
By this word Honour, is also signified the louelove, reuerence, dutie, obedience, subiection, entertainment, and necessarie assistance that children owe to their parents. As concerning the louelove; the summarie of the second Table, comprehended in these words; Theu shalt louelove thy neighbour as thy selfe: doth manifestly confirme …. 23. 39.it. For who can be a nearer neighbour for the children to louelove, then their parents?
Besides that, they are not to be loued onelyonly as neighbours proceeding of Adam and Eue, but also as fathers and mothers. And therefore, what ingratitude is it, not to louelove those, of whom (next after God) they hauehave their life and being: together, with so many great and continuall benefits? Also the louelove that parents do beare to their children, besides so many their labours, sorrowes, troubles, and vexations, should bind them reciprocally to louelove them.
The Sunne shining a while vponupon the cold stones, doth so heate them, that they yeeld some warmth; so, albeit that children be as hard and cold as stones, yet the experience, and daily feeling of the louelove of their parents towards them, ought mightily to inflame their hearts to louelove them againe. Take away the beame from the Sunne, and it will not shine: the springs from the riuer, and it will drie vp; the bough from the tree, and it will wither; the member from the body, and it will rot; and so take from children their duty to their parents, and they are no longer children, but brethren and companions with those vntounto whom Christ Iesus said; Ye are children of the diuell: Ioh. 8. 44.
This band of the louelove of children towards their parents, should take such place, not onelyonly towards such parents as are louing and gentle, but also (as Saint Peter saith, of the duties of seruants to their maisters) euen towards such as be rigorous. For if we ought to louelove all the children of Adam, euen those whom we know not, yea, out enemies and persecutors: how much rather our parents, although they should intreat vsus roughly, and with rigour, either in word or deed? And verily the principall cause still abideth: namely, that they be our father and mother. This ought children well to note, to the end that patiently bearing their reprehensions, reproofs, and in generall, whatsoeuer their troublesome and sharpe affections, they may still continue and declare their child-like affection and louelove. And to that purpose, children must remember, the labour, griefe, anguisn, weeping, sorrow, and other troublesome cares that their parents do abide, and endure for them.
This louelove must be accompanied with reuerence and respect: and to say the truth, albeit the name of Father, belongeth properly vntounto God, as Iesus Christ saith: You hauehave but one Father, Mat. 23. 9.euen he which is in heauen; yet doth he so impart it to those that hauehave begotten vsus, that they being called fathers do beare the title and Image of God. And this is it that bindeth children to respect and honour them, and to testifie the same by their outward reuerence. Of this reuerence we hauehave a notable example in Salomon: he vnderstanding that his mother Bethshebah, 1. King. 2. 19.was comming to speake with him, arole from his seate, came to meete her, bowed before her, and seated her vponupon his right hand. Neither could his greatnesse, neither his Royall-estate, priuiledge him from this respect and honor due to his mother.
When the sonne doth execute magistracie, or publicke office, he is greater then his father, and must beare himselfe as a magistrate, not as a sonne: but when he is out of place, or execution of office, he must (how highly soeuer he be aduanced) hauehave a respect, and yeeld reuerence to his parents. But many times it falleth out otherwise: for many children when they come to honor or wealth, do so despise their parents, if they be of meaner calling then themselues, that hardly they will acknowledge, or call them father: as if they were ashamed of them. So that, that man putteth off the affection of a child to his father, who by the eminencie of an office ouer him, quencheth the name of a sonne.
But Salomon forgat not himselfe in this kind 1. King. 2. 20.of dutie, for he did not onelyonly bow before his mother, but said, Mother, aske, and I will not denie thee. And this do we the rather note also, vponupon an other consideration; namely, that his example condemneth the custome of these dayes, wherein this name of father and mother, is accounted so base and contemptible, that the children of Kings, Princes, yea, euen of meane Gentlemen, speaking to their parents, must not say, father, mother; but Syr: my Lord: my Ladie: Madame: &c.
But the due honour to parents, that we here speake of, implyeth not onelyonly this outward reuerence, but also that we should so esteeme of them, as that neither we our selues should despise them, nor suffer others-to hauehave them in contempt. And this are we to vnderstand in the saying of Iesus Christ: I honour my Father, but ye dishonour me. He therefore defendeth the honour of his Father, against the Ioh. 849.false opinions and slaunders of the Iewes. But some there are so vnnaturall and peruerse, that forgetting all due reuerence and respect to their parents, they will not onelyonly despise them in their owne hearts, and suffer others to speake hardly of them, but also will themselues so farre exceed, as euen to lay them open to the scorne of others.
Ham the sonne of Noah, seeing his father lye vncouered, called his brethren, to shew them his fathers shame. But so odious was this impietie in the sight of God, that Noah (by the …. 9. 22.conduct and direction of the holy Ghost) cursed both him and all his …. And therefore, we (well and truly) may say, that those children, who in stead of defending the honor of their parents, do lay them open to shame and reproofe, do come of the cursed seed of Ham.
This dutie of honouring parents, is performed and payed, when they do worshipfully, The honor due to parents.and reuerently esteeme of them, as to thinke that they are giuen to them of God, to the end that they should reuerence, louelove, and alwayes Childrens dutie is, from their beginning to their ending, to be subiect, obedient, and helpfull to their parents.hauehave a care of them: if for nothing else, yet for the Lords sake; who is, and doth thinke himselfe despised, so long as the children condemne their parents, and little regard them. So the children honour their parents, when with their helpe and counsell, they aide them in their old age and vnweildy crookednesse, when they ease and helpe them in the time of their need, or succour Mat. 15. 4. 5. 6 Exod. 21. 15. 17.them otherwise in any case else, and do wholly bestow themselues, and all that they Leuit. 20. 9. Pro. 20. 20. & 30. 17. Deut. …. 16.hauehave to do them good withall: yea, they ought not to giuegive them a rough or stubburne answer, or once so much as to mumble, of … an answer against their parents; neither to smite, or curse, or speake euill of their father and mother: vnlesse they will procure the vengeance of God to light vponupon them for the same.
Children ought alwayes to remember, that What children do to their parents, they do to God, so that they may not purloine or diminish any of their substāce. Pro. 28. 24.whatsoeuer they do to their fathers and mothers, (be it good or euill) they do it to God: when they please them, they please God: and when they disobey them, they disobey God: when their parents are iustly angrie with them, God is angrie with them: neither can it be that they may come to hauehave the fauour of God againe, (no, although all the Saints in heauen should intreate for them) vntill they hauehave submitted themselues to their father and mother.
If children and seruants would alwaies keepe in minde this saying: so to do and behaue themselues to their parents, Maisters, and Dames, as they would hauehave their children and seruants to do, and behaue themselues to them, when God Mat. 7. 12.shall vouchsafe to make them parents, maisters, or dames: then (no doubt) they would obey and reuerence their parents and maisters, and dames, more dutifully, and faithfully, then now they do.
For, let them assure themselues, that such measure as they … mete to their parents, maisters, Mat. 7. 2.and dames, such will be measured to them againe by their children and seruants.
Also the children must be carefull to follow the good examples of their fathers and mothers, and to suffer themselues to be gouerned by them, and to be mindfull to bestow all paine and diligence to discharge their dutie towards them: And herewithali, they must know, that they are not at their owne libertie, to do as they list, so long as they hauehave a father and mother to rule them: and that they must not fall out among themselues, but naturally louelove and helpe one another.
And children hauehave alwayes to remember, that they may not in anie case obey their parents, when they shall command them to do or say any thing that is contrarie to the word of God, and yet they are to be thought well of.
For example, Ionathan obeyed not his father Sauls commandement, who charged him to 1. Sam. 20. 28. &c & 22. 17. Dan. 3. 18. Act. 4. 19.persecute Dauid: and therefore he is worthilie commended in the holy Scriptures. For, the duties of the first Table are alwaies to be preferred before the duties of the second Table.
This subiection therefore that children owe vntounto their fathers, ought in very deed to be vntounto them as a ladder, or staire, to leade them to the reuerence and obedience of God, who is our Mat. 23. 9.chiefe Father.
As children receiue of their parents three things, to wit, life, maintenance, and instruction: so for these three, they owe other three: namely, for life, they owe louelove: for maintenance, they owe obedience: for instruction, they owe reuerence. For their life, they must feruently louelove their parents: for their maintenance, they must dutifully obey their parents, as maisters: and for their instruction, they must cheerfully reuerence their parents, as their tutors.
And further, children must remember, that the Lord hath giuen to them their parents, to take of them their beginning of life, and that they might nourish and bring them vp: and that of rude and almost brutish things, they might make them able to helpe and liue of themseluer: yea, and such mothers as are godly and vertuous, do suffer and endure more paine and griefe in the bearing, bringing vp, and nourishing of their children, then the fathers do.
So that greater are the pleasures and good turnes that Christian parents do for their children, greater is the cost and labour that they bestow on them, and greater is the care, griefe, and trouble, which they take for them, then any man how learned soeuer he be, is able to expresse. And therefore if there were no other reasons, or causes to moue children greatly to louelove, to esteeme well, to obey, to be kind, faithfull, and dutifull, and to reuerence their parents, and that with such a reuerence as commeth from the heart: yet these were sufficient.
Maides and young women are to be put in minde, and alwayes to remember, that the best portion, the greatest inheritance, and the most precious iewell that they can bring with them on the marriage day, is shamefastnesse: the want whereof is most hurtfull in all women. And therefore they must carefully shun and auoide all idle and wanton talke, nice lookes, dalliance, and light countenance, when they walke abroad or be in company. A man needeth many things, as wisedome, eloquence, knowledge of things, remembrance, skill in some trade or craft to liue by, iustice, courage, and other things, and qualities moe, which were too long to rehearse: and though some of these be lacking, yet is he not to be misliked, so that he hauehave many of them. But in a maid, no man will looke for eloquence, great wit, ordering of the Commonwealth, prudence, &c.
Finally, no man will looke for any other thing of a woman, but her honestie: the which When a woman loseth her honestie, then hath she lost her chiese treasure.onelyonly if it be lacking, she is like a man that wanteth all that he should hauehave. For in a maid, her honestie and chastitie is in stead of all. She verily may truly be said to be an euill keeper, that cannot keepe one thing well, committed to her keeping, and put in trust to her, with much commendation of words: and especially which no man will take from her against her will, nor touch it, except she be willing her selfe. The which thing onelyonly if a woman remember, it will cause her to take great heed vntounto, and to be a more warie and carefull keeper of her honestie, which alone being lost, though all other things be neuer so well and safe, yet they perish together therewith, because she that hath once lost her honestie, should thinke there is nothing left.
Take from a maid or woman her beautie, take from her, kindred, riches, comelinesse, eloquence, sharpnesse of wit, cunning in her craft, and giuegive her chastitie, and you hauehave giuen her all things. And on the other side, giuegive her all these things, & iustly call her whore, or naughtie-packe: with that one word you hauehave taken all from her, and left her bare and foule. How precious a iewell chastitie is, may easily be gathered from the example of Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare vntounto Iacob, who Gen. 34. 12.when he heard that she was … and defiled by Shechem the sonne of Hamer the Hiuite, Lord of that countrie, his mind was grieuously wounded with this great shame and reproch.
Children may not forget this duty; for hauing receiued their being from their parents, and being Children may not marry without the cō sent & agreement of their …: so that an vnlawfull promise made by the child, may lawfully be broken.brought vp by them with great paines and much cost, they should not so much as giuegive any liking, much lesse speech of marriage, without the consent of parents, or of those which are set ouer them by their parents: the duty of thankfulnesse requiring it at their hands. And not onelyonly in regard of thankful nesse is this duty to be performed to their parents, but euen in regard of their owne inabilitie, as being not experienced in such things, as their wits being not so ripe as their parents, they wanting wisedome and discretion to behaue themselues as they ought. For some children know not what is meere and conuenient for them, nor whether they be of meete age and condition to marrie. Which inhabilitie being in the sonnes, is much more in the daughters, as being the weaker by nature, and more vnable to prouide for themselues; and therefore it is necessarie that they should not marrie without the consent and direction of their parents, but that they be at their bestowing: for, to do otherwise is a sinne, euen that nature it selfe abhorreth, and all sound writers, old and new, do vtterly disallow.
And for so much as marriage is the meanes the which God himselfe hath ordained, and sanctified for the propagation and increase of mankind, that being taken in hand in his feare, It is a sweete wedding, whē the father and the mother bring ablessing to the feast: and a heauie vnion, which is cursed the firs̄t day that it is knit.a godly seed being multiplied and growen vp here on earth, the same may be blessed, to the constitution and making of a Church, the which may serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse: when the same is taken in hand with the breach of his commandement, so farre off is it that any blessing is to be hoped for, that contrariwise, his hot indignation, wrath and heauy curse hangeth ouer that house and family, where the parties which are the principall pillars and vpholders of the same, are linked and tied together in such a band of wedlocke, whose linkes and inclosings are not fastened and coupled together with the necessarie and lawfull assent and liking of the parents, whose authoritie and consent ought to beare the chiefest sway, and strike likewise the greatest stroke, in this honorable ….
And likewise, as where marriage is begun and enterprised in the feare of God, according to his word, there God is well pleased, there the parties so matched, liue together in a ioyfull agreement, & linking the one to the other, there God is honoured, and serued in sinceritie and truth: there the children (when God giueth them) with the rest of the family, are instructed and brought vp in knowledge of religion, and grounds of faith: so on the other side, the regard of that which God especially commandeth, being shut out of our marriages, there must needs ensue his dislike, and displeasure: there is a iarre and discord: there Gods honour is neglected: there household discipline and Christian instruction of such as belong vntounto our charge, goeth vtterly to wracke, and is nothing at all regarded. And no maruell: for, if where God blesseth, all things go well and do prosper: then consequently, where he curseth, there nothing thriueth, hath good successe, or goeth happily forward. It may appeare by sundrie examples, both before the Law was giuen and after, that this is a duty required of children towards their parents, namely, to hauehave their consent in contracting of marriage: as these places do plainely shew: Gen. 21. 21. and 24. 3. &c. and 29. 19. and 34. 4. Deut. 7. 3. Iudge. 14. 1. &c. 1. Cor. 7. 36. 38. 1. Sam. 18. 1.Whereby is manifestly proued, that children ought not to match without the consent of their parents:
First, because it is against the law of nature.
Secondly, because the parents hauehave authority ouer their children, more then they hauehave ouer their seruants.
Thirdly, because children are their fathers goods and riches, and therefore they must not bestow themselues in marriage, but must be bestowed of their parents.
Fourthly, because parents hauehave authoritie ouer the vowes of their children. Numb. 30. 4. 5. 6.Contracts void without the consent of parents.
Fiftly, if a mans daughter be enticed, yet her father may refuse the contract; being not auaileable, or of any force, without his consent. Exod. 22. 16. 17.
Besides all this, what clearer proofe can we hauehave then the fift Commandement, in the which children are commaunded to honour their fathers and mothers, with a blessing promised to those which performe the same? whereby we gather, by the nature of contraries, that there is a curse also belonging to all those children that shall dishonour them.
And in that God willeth that the parents by their children should be honoured, he meaneth that they should in all humility and modestie reuerence them, with all dutifull submission be obedient vntounto them: and with all willingnesse shew themselues thankfull for their creation, education, sustentation, and all other benefites that (vnderunder God) they hauehave receiued from them; being ready by all the meanes they possibly may, to imitate and expresse towards them the nature of the Stroke: whose property (as they write of them,) is to prouide meate, and feed their dams, when through age they grow so old that they are not able to helpe themselues: that is to say, they must to their very vtmost, seeke to make them recompence and requitall of some part of those vnrequitable paines, the which their louing parents hauehave taken with them, and make some amends for the vncounteruailable kindnesse that they hauehave shewed towards them.
But where they bestow themselues in marriage without the consent of their parents, there they do fault, and make a breach of dutie, in all these three respects: that is to say, they neither reuerence, obey, nor shew themselues thankfull vntounto them.
For reuerence consisteth in this, that children carry towards their parents, a certaine honest and modest shamefastnesse, ioyned with a bashfull awfulnesse, and standing in feare of them: the which worketh in them a conceiuing of such opinion and estimation of them, as that they hauehave an especiall respect and regard of them, in doing or not doing of things, rather of a care to please them, then of a feare to offend them.
Obedience herein sheweth foorth it selfe, in that willingly, without murmuring or grudging they be willing to be ordered, directed, guided, and ruled by their parents: being ready to do all lawfull things, which they command them, and to refraine from those things, which they forbid them.
Thankfulnesse, (besides that there are many other branches) is alwayes mindfull of benefits receiued, and therefore carryeth continually a vigilant and watchfull eye towards the partie by whom it hath bene pleasured, that no discourtesie in any case be offered, or any occasion be ministred, whereby he may conceiue vnkindnesse.
And by this familiar description of these three heads (wherein standeth chiefely the honour due vntounto parents,) we may clearely see, that those children which in wedding tarrie not for the consent of their fathers and mothers, do neither stand in awfull feare of them, as whom they would be loath to offend or displease, nor yet giuegive ouer themselues in all things to be gouerned and aduised by them: nor hauehave any regard that they be not causers to make their friends and parents conceiue hardly and vnkindly of them, when as it is more then manifest, that in matters concerning their dutie towards their parents, no griefe cutteth nearer vntounto the heart, then this, when their children entangle themselues contrary to their mind and liking.
And therefore such children as match in this sort, as it were in spite of the teeth of their fathers and mothers, are neither reuerent, obedient, nor thankfull vntounto them, and so consequently, they do not honour them: whereby they incurre and runne into the curse of God, which without true and vnfained repentance, must needs pull downe vponupon the heads of themselues and their families, the fearefull plagues of God his most heauie and hote indignation against them, to their vtter subuersion, decay and ruine.
Let all dutifull and good nurtured children therefore, in the reuerence and feare of God, consider what honour and obedience they owe vntounto their parents, and what power and authoritie he hath in his word sanctified vntounto them ouer their children in the Lord; and in regard hereof, let them yeeld vntounto them in this dutie, that their fathers hauing prouided for them such as are not of a wicked life, nor deformed, nor euill-fauoured, nor of a contrary religion, they … submit themselues vntounto their Children …, are to pray vntounto God to direct their parents in a godly choyce, and to … their minds to accept of the same.choyce, which if for the present, or vponupon the sodaine they cannot yeeld vntounto, let them by earnest calling vponupon the name of God, not onelyonly desire him to direct their parents in a godly and fit choyce, but also to subdue in them this corrupt affection, and to frame their wills to be plyable vntounto their fathers, in such lawsull cases. For the Lord our God in his iustice doth iustly punish disobedient children, as may appeare by the example of Ham, the younger sonne of Noah; who derided his father, and was iustly punished …. 9. 22.for it.
Likewise Absolon vsing wicked practises to 2. Sam. 15. 1. &c. & 18. 14.get the kingdome from Dauid his father, for rebellion and disobedience, came to a most miserable end. Yea, and he hath in his law set downe a most seuere and sharpe punishment against disobedient children: If any man hauehave a sonne that Deut 21. 18. 19. 20. 21.is stubburne and disobedient, which will not hear … vntounto the voyce of his father, and the voyce of his mother and they hauehave chastened him, and he would not obey them: then shall his father and his mother take him, and bring him out vntounto the Elders of the Citie, and vntounto the gates of the place where he dwelleth, and shall say vntounto the Elders of his Citie; This our sonne is stubburne and disobedient, and he will not obey our admonition: he is a riotour and a drunkard. Then all the men of the Citie shall stone him with stones vntounto death: So thou shalt take away euill from among you, that all Israel may heare it and feare. For euen Exod. 20. 12. Ephes 6. 2. Deut. 28. 15. &c. Leuit. 26. 14. &c.as a long and a prosperous life is promised vntounto obedient children: so on the other side, all disobedient, vnthankfull, and obstinate children, are assured of the punishment of infamie, ioyned with diuers and great calamities and torments. 1. Sam. 2. 22. 1. King. 1. 25. &c. Deut. 21. 18. &c. Prou. 20. 20. & 30. 17.
And although that the temporall officers be negligent in punishing this disobedience, yet shall they not escape vnpunished: for the vengeance of God shall accompanie them, vntill they be vtterly destroyed. For there is nothing more vnnaturall then to see children dishonour and disobey their parents; and inferiours their superiours. Such may aptly be compared to the Viper, that gnaweth out the bellie of her dam, and seeketh her owne life with her dams death.
So contrariwise, the word of God doth highly commend Ioseph for his great louelove, beneficence, and obedience extended towards … father Gen. 46 29. &c. and 48. … 12.Iacob, and his brethren: in that he both helped and liberally nourished them, and prayed for them. Our Sauiour Christ was also obedient to his parents, euen vntill death. So that the Luke 2. 51.Lord (no doubt) will blesse obedient children, with many happy dayes and yeares, to his glory, and their soules comfort.
And to the end to inuite and stirre vp children to honour their parents, as before is shewed, the Deut. 5. 16. Exed. 20. 12.Lord addeth this promise, That thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee: And S. Paul doth note, that it is the first Commandement Ephes. 6. 2.with promise. For albeit there be a promise added to the second, and others of the first Table, yet this fift Commandemēnt is the first of righteousnesse; and none in the second Table, besides it, hath any promise annexed thereunto.
For herein hath God declared how highly he commendeth the obedience and honour that children yeeld to their parents. But the Lord spake to the Israelites properly of the land that he had promised them for an inheritance, which should be vntounto them as a testimonie and seale of his goodnesse and louelove towards them. It is therefore, as if he should hauehave said: To the end, that liuing vponupon the earth, thou mayest long enioy the earnest pennie of my goodnesse and grace towards thee. But now seeing the whole earth is blessed to the faithfull, the promise of long life vponupon the earth, is vntounto vsus a blessing of God.
First, because we cannot liue long without participating of many & great benefits of God, euen in respect of the preseruation of this present life.
Secondly, because the faithfull may the longer employ themselues to serue & glorifie God.
In confideration whereof, we see what the Church in old time said: The dead praise not the Psal. 115. 17. 18.Lord, neither any that go downe into the place of silence: but we will praise the Lord from henceforth, and for euer. The same doth Hezekiah King of Iudah also note in his Canticle: The liuing, the liuing, Esay 38. 19.he shall confesse thee, as I do this day: the fathers to the children shall declare thy truth.
In as much therefore, as long life is promised as a blessing; God doth continue it to obedient children, so long as it is a blessing vntounto them. And hereupon doth S. Paul ioyne together these two sentences: That it may go well with thee, Ephes. 6. 3.and that thou mayest liue long vponupon the earth. As also when God taketh away such obedient children before they be old; yea, before they come vntounto mans estate: whether it be, lest malice should corrupt their hearts, or to preuent some greater calamities, wherein they might (peraduenture) be entangled, or vponupon whatsoeuer other considerations, to receiue them into a better life, he doth faithfully performe his promise vntounto such children, because he dealeth better then promise with them.
But as contrariwise, this promise threatneth such children as will not honour their parents, with short life: so doth experience declare, that many such children are of short and wretched life. But if contrariwise, such disobedient children do chance to liue long, so farre is long life from being vntounto them a blessing, that on the contrarie, it is an enforcement and increase of woe, because they enlarge their iust condemnation: so as they had bene better to hauehave died in their youth. But howsoeuer it be, God so disposeth thereof, that by the effects we may perceiue, that they which honour their parents are blessed, and the others are accursed, Eccles. 3. 2. &c.
And although some parents do not performe those duties towards their children enioyned them from the Lord; yet such children as liue wickedly, must know, that they are not exempt and free from blame, and guiltinesse before God.
For although they can say (as the children in Ezekiels time said,) The fathers hauehave eaten sowre grapes, and the childrens teeth are set on edge; we say, that although the occasion be offered of such vngodly and wicked parents, yet the cause of destruction is still in the children themselues. And besides that, it is sure, that the soule that hath sinned shall die the death.
Seeing there be some young men and maids, who notwithstanding the great prophanenesse of the most, the manifold corruptions offered abroad, the vngodly examples abounding at home, are so mightily preserued by the seed of grace, that they escape safely in an holy course of life, lamenting when they see the least occasion of euill, reioycing at the least occasion of good things: the rest, who please themselues, and hope to shelter their sinnes vnderunder their parents defaults, are plainly left without excuse, and are iuftly guilty of the bloud of their owne soules.
Labour therefore ye young men and maidens, to wipe away the teares of griefe from your fathers eyes, and stay the mournfull and sorrowfull spirits of your tender mothers; and consider in your selues, if ye hauehave any nature in you, and hauehave not buried the vse of common reason, what a shame it is to be a shame vntounto your fathers, to whom ye ought to be a glory: thinke, ye wanton wits, that hauehave not cast off all naturall affections, what a contempt it is, to be a contempt vntounto your mothers, to whom you hauehave offered, as it were a despitefull violence, in that ye are a corrasiue to their griefe, when as ye should hauehave bene a crowne to their comforts.
Learne therefore ye children, that it is one speciall propertie of a liberall and ingenious nature, to be carefull to liue, that in time ye may be a glory to your fathers, and a ioy to your mothers: which the Lord for his Christs sake grant.
These precepts and admonitions before said, are as a summary of the duties of children to their parents. And therefore it resteth, that they vnderstanding them, do pray vntounto God to giuegive them grace to put them in practise to his glory, and their good and saluation.
Lastly, let them remember, that God is not more inclined to heare any prayers, then such as parents de powre forth for their children. As they are therefore to feare their curse, for offending them: so must they by honouring and pleasing them, seeke to be blessed in their prayers, which are blessings ratified vntounto them in heauen, as the blessing of Isaacke to his sonne Iacob doth manifestly declare. Gen. 27. 28. 29.