A Christian Family Built by God, Table of contents
The ſum of this following Book, which is in ſtead of a generall Table, referring to every Section, Pſalme 127. 1.
1
An Introduction▪ (Page 1.)
A Traction: wherein
2
1
The Doctrine is propounded. If we would have bleſſed Families, we muſt get them builded by God. (Sect. 1.)
The Application, where fall 2 quares,
2
1
What Gods building in a Family is
1
Both for matter, (Sect. 2.)
And for rule and ſquare,
1
The word of God,
Not carnal policy, (Sect. 3.)
2
2
How we may procure it. By having
2
1
God's Timber, Single perſons, (Sect. 4.) which muſt be framed as they are
1
Old men, (Sect. 5.)
Old women, (Sect. 6.)
Young men and young women, (Sect. 7.
2
3
2
God's building: which muſt have
1
A foundation, Marriage in the Lord. In which we muſt goe along with God,
1
In the Antecedents
1
A right choiſe,
By right marks, (S. 8)
2
In the concomitants,
1
The gift of the Parents
The bleſſing of the Miniſter,
The mutual rejoycing of the friends (S. 9.)
2
3
In the conſequents,
1
Cohabitation, and
Communion. (Sect. 10.)
2
2
3
2
An upper building, which ſtands in 3 relations betwixt
1
Wife, (Sect. 11.)
Husband, (Sect. 12.)
Children, (Sect. 13.)
Parents, Sect. 14.)
Servants, (Sect. 15.)
Maſters, (Sect. 16.)
2
3
4
5
6
3
God's finiſhing by an orderly government, (Sect. 17.) which muſt be executed,
1
By a good Father of a Family, (Sect. 18.)
By a good Mother, of a Family, (Sect. 19.)
2
God's furniſhing of a Family,
1
By getting goods: which is either
1
By lending, (Sect. 20.)
By borrowing, (Sect. 21.)
By ſelling, (Sect. 22.)
By buying, (Sect. 23.)
By letting, (Sect. 24.)
By hiring, (Sect. 25.)
2
3
4
5
6
By giving goods, (Sect. 26.)
2
4
A FAMILY BUILT BY GOD: Or a Meditation to direct Houſholders, how to riſe from the Foundation to the height of a bleſſed Family.
Pſalm, 127. 1.
Except the Lord build the houſe, they labour in vain that build it; or are builders of it in it.
THere are fifteen Pſalmes which are called Pſalmes of Degrees, and this is one. They follow next to the hundred and nineteenth, and are of excellent uſe upon ſeverall occaſions.
There were diverſe ſtaires up into the Temple, and the Prieſts and Levites did ſtand higher then the reſt, upon ſome of them, for the better edification of the people, when they ſung them; and they ſay, theſe Pſalmes had their names from thence.
The ſcope of this Pſalm is, to confirm this general propoſition, That without Gods bleſſings the diligent endeavours of men are blaſted. This the Pſalmiſt demonſtrates by a Diſtribution, Verſe 1 by an Oppoſition, by a Promiſe, and by an Example. He diſtributes all the labours of men into publike, and private: in both which he ſhews that there is no good ſucceſs without Gods bleſſing. He oppoſeth the carefulleſt worker, who without this bleſſing of God is curſed. He promiſeth ſweet contentment to them that work with the bleſſing of God, Verſe 2 They ſhall have ſleep and reſt as Gods beloved Verſe 3 He Inſtanceth in children, who are the nurſery plants both of Church, Common-wealth and Family, yet cannot be obtained with any labour without Gods bleſſing: therefore above all things we muſt wait upon Gods bleſſing to build the houſe firſt by.
Gods people were firſt in a Family, next in a Church, and next in a Common-wealth. therefore firſt he mentions the building of an houſe.
Queſt. You will ask, whether God be become a Carpenter? Anſw. I muſt ſay No: but it is Gods goodneſs by theſe things we know, to bring us to the knowledge of what we know not. For as the word Houſe is taken figuratively, for all things that conſtitute, and maintain the honour and comfort of a family, as wife, children, ſervants, goods of all ſorts within dores, and without. So to build ſignifies whatſoever contributes to raiſe up, and enlarge a Family by honeſt, and good means; as an helpfull wife, hopefull children, faithfull ſervants, and well gotten goods, and inheritances. Thus Exod. 1. 21. 1 Chron. 17. 12. 2 Sam. 7. 11.God is ſaid to make the Aegyptian midwives houſes, and to build David an houſe, over, and over again.