The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 27

The Christian Mans Calling · Treatise · Chapter 27

p. 515CHAP. XXVII. How a Chriſtian may exerciſe himſelf to Godlineſs in his Family as the governour thereof.

IT is thy duty to exerciſe thy ſelf to godlineſs in thy Family and relations. Fifthly,A Chriſtian muſt not like the Iſraelites Pillar in the Wilderneſs, be light on one ſide, and dark on the other; be diligent in one relation, and negligent in another; but as a candle in a Chryſtial Lanthorn, be lightſom quite round it, be holy in every Relation in which he ſtandeth.

Reader, I ſhall conſider thee as Governor or Governeſs of a Family, and herein direct thee what thou ſhouldſt do for the faithful diſcharge of thy truſt in that relation.

p. 516Houſes under the Law were to be dedicated to God at their firſt ſetting up: Deut. 20.5.Deut 20:5Which was done (ſaith Ainſworth on the place) with ſinging and praiſing God, Pſal. 30. vide Title.Ps 30as well as feaſting. Davids Pſalm at the dedication of his Houſe, is worthy our imitation. Hezekias upon the Law touching the fanctifying an houſe to God (Levit. 27.14, 15.) giveth this Expoſition, That to dedicate or ſanctifie an houſe to God, is for the Governor to be careful for the inſtruction of his Family, and the Religious Converſation of his Houſhold; that his houſe may be Gods houſe; and his children, Gods children; and his ſervants Gods ſervants.

A Family is a natural and ſimple Society of certain perſons, having mutual relation one to another, under the private government of one head, or chief. Ariſtotle calleth Families the firſt Society in nature, and the ground of all the reſt. Before the Flood, the whole form of Civil and Eccleſiaſtical Government, was confined within the Precincts of private Families. A Family is the Epitome of a Kingdom and Commonwealth in a little volume. The way to make godly Pariſhes, and godly Countreys, and godly Kingdoms, is to make godly Families. When ſin as a plague ſpeadeth abroad, it beginneth in Families: One Atheiſtical Family, defileth and deſtroyeth many; it ſendeth a ſon into one houſe, a daughter into another, a ſervant into a third, and every of them, like infectious perſons, poyſon thoſe with whom they converſe: Like a neſt of Foxes, they deſtroy and devour all the Countrey over. As p. 517one Houſe on fire, often burneth down many, ſo one prophane Family injureth many; one godly Family on the contrary, doth good to many: As one ſtock of Bees ſendeth forth ſwarms and honey, into many parts of the Countrey; ſo one Religious Familie ſending Religious Children and Servants abroad (they come in time to have Families of their own) may bring much honor to God, and be helpful to the eternal welfare of many ſouls.

A Godleſs Family, like a Gun or Cannon, killeth at a diſtance, as their ſwearing children, and drunken ſervants come to ſpread abroad. A gracious Family, like the Weapon-ſalve, healeth at a diſtance, as the pious Relations in it, come to be diſperſed in other places. Solomon was a Religious Houſe-keeper, and it is obſervable his ſervants were ſo ſeaſoned by him with godlineſs, that their children five hundred years after, were recorded by the Spirit of God, to be the moſt eminent in their time for Religion, Ezra 2.58. Solomon being a godly Governor of his Family, did good after he was dead, at ſo great a diſtance. Theodoſius being asked, how a private perſon might be a publique good: anſwered, By ordering all things well at home. The way to make our Orchards good, is to look well to our Nurſeries.

It concerneth thee therefore, Reader, nearly, to exalt godlineſs in thy houſe, as well as in thy heart; nay, I will be bold to tell thee, if there be in thee the truth of Religion, thou wilt propagate it amongſt thy Relations: Thou wilt not be p. 518like the Whirpool, to ſuck all into thy ſelf, but be diffuſive for the good of others. A good Chriſtian is like a needle touched with the Loadſtone, which being drawn it ſelf, will draw others along with it. When Chriſt had drawn Philip, he preſently draweth Nathaniel, 1 John 43.45. The Bird hath no ſooner found an heap of corn, but ſhe chirpeth and calleth her fellows, and will be ſure to carry ſome home to her neſt. A Saint ſhould endeavour the converſion of his neighbours, that they may eat of the bread of life with him; but he ſhould have a ſpecial regard to his own family, that all in it may feed on Chriſt by faith, and live. Nature hath taught the Bevers to help one another in ſwiming; and the Cranes flying over the Mountain Taurus, when the foremoſt is weary in beating the ayr, that the next ſhould ſucceed, and ſo in order every one to labour for the ſafety of them all. Chriſtians are taught from other creatures, to be helpful one to another; but the Maſter of the family, like the Sun, muſt outſhine all in reſpect of publique influence.

Plutarch ſaith of the neighbour Villages about Rome in Numa's time, That ſucking in the ayr of that City, Niceph.they breathed righteouſneſs. Thy Family ought to be a wholeſome ayr for others to breathe in. It is reported of Andronicus the elder, that he was Mr. of ſuch a Family as was the ſhop of Vertue; Enar. in Hoſ. Prael.and therefore it was called foreign, The Sun of the Earth. Tremellius, who for a time ſojourned in Biſhop Cranmers Family, telleth us, p. 519that it was Schola vel Palaeſtra Pietatis & Literarum; The School or Nurſery of Piety and Learning. The houſes of the primitive Chriſtians were little Churches, in regard of the Worſhip and Service of God: To the Church that is in thine houſe, Philem. v. 2. Rom. 16.5. 1 Cor. 16.9. Coloſ. 4.15. Though many a mans houſe is ſo far from being Gods Church and Temple, that its the Devils ſtye and kennel, that God may ſay to the Maſter of the Family, as in Rev. 2.13. I know where thou dwelleft, even where Satans Throne is: Nay, though they are civil abroad, then they will have ſome rags to cover their naughtineſs, they are ſordid at home, and diſcover there all their nakedneſs and naſtineſs. David on the contrary, whatever ſteps he might take awry, and whatſoever ſlips he might meet with in his publique walking, would be ſure to look to his feet in his private dwelling: I will walk in the midſt of my houſe with a perfect heart, until thou come unto me, Pſal. 101.2. David was no Hypocrite, he did not put on his beſt cloathes when he went out, and put them off when he came in; but Purity was his livery, as abroad, ſo at home.

Imitate that pious Governor (who though he had the burthen of all the Iſraelites, Civil and Military affairs lying upon his ſhoulders, yet could ſay, I and my houſe will ſerve the Lord.

Reader, I ſhall offer two thoughts to quicken thee to this neceſſary duty, and then give thee directions for the management of it.

1. Conſider, that Religion in a Family is the p. 520way to procure Gods bleſſing on thy Family. The holy family alone is the happy family. The Lord bleſſed the houſe of Obed-Edom for the Arks ſake, 2 Sam. 6.11. If the Ark be in the houſe; that is, Religion, God is there, for the Ark was a type of Gods preſence; and canſt thou need any comforts when thou haſt Gods Company?

The Philoſopher could ſay, Though he had few goods in his houſe, yet he had the Gods in his houſe. Though thou haſt a poor dwelling, yet if Godlineſs be there, thou ſhalt have Gods bleſſing. His preſence will make the habitation of thy righteouſneſs proſperous, Job 8.6. Thou mayſt ſay of thy houſe as Jacob of Bethel, The Lord is in this place, this is none other but the Houſe of God. Baſil ſpeaketh that in ſome Countries they draw other Pigeons to their Dove-houſes by anointing one of their Pigeons wings with ſweet Ointment. If thy houſe be anointed with the Oyl of godlineſs, it will allure the bleſſed God to it, and then what evil needſt thou fear, or what good canſt thou want? It is obſerved of the Palladium in Troy, that whilſt that remained amongſt them, their City was ſafe. The onelyonly way to have a deſtroying Angel paſs by thy houſe, is to have the door-poſts ſprinkled with the blood of Jeſus Chriſt. Through wiſdom is an houſe builded, and by underſtanding it is eſtabliſhed; And by knowledge ſhall the chambers be filled with all pleaſant and precious riches, Pro. 24.3, 4. Here is true wealth, and the right way to injoy it. 1. The true wealth, thy chambers ſhall be filled with all pleaſant and precious riches.

p. 521Righteouſneſs is the beſt way to riches. 2. The way to this, by wiſdom an houſe is builded, and it is eſtabliſhed by underſtanding. By wiſdom and underſtanding, Godlineſs is underſtood; And unto man he ſaid, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wiſdom, and to depart from evil is underſtanding, Job 28. ult. This wiſdom is the beſt foundation for any houſe to ſtand upon. When Religion layeth the foundation, raiſeth the walls, and covereth the roof, ſuch a houſe is built upon a Rock, and will ſtand againſt all the Winds and Waves, wrath and rage of men and devils. Some Families had laſted longer, ſaith Luther, if they had been holier.

Religion will bring a bleſſing on thy eſtate, Job 1.10. Bleſſed is he that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his Commandements; For thou ſhalt eat the labour of thy hands; happy ſhalt thou be, and it ſhall be well with thee, Pſa. 128.1, 2. It will bring a bleſſing on thy Children. God will be a God to thee and to thy ſeed after thee, Gen. 17.7. Pro. 20.7. The branches will fare the better for the ſap of grace which is in the root. It will bring a bleſſing on thy name, Pro. 10.7. Holineſs will make thy houſe truely honorable; It will bring a bleſſing on all thine affairs. In a word, that day in which Religion is ſet up in thy houſe, I may ſay to thee as Chriſt to Zacheus, This day Salvation is come to thy houſe.

2. Conſider, A Family without Religion is a curſed family. That houſe which is not Bethel, an Houſe of God, but Bethaven, an houſe of vanity, is Bethany an houſe of ſorrow and miſery. The curſe p. 522of the Lord is in the houſe of the wicked, Pro. 3.33. Whatſoever Cordials or comfors, diſhes or dainties are there, the curſe… of God, like the wild gourd, which the ſons of the Prophets put into their pottage, will ſpoil and poiſon all. As a little Leven, a little of this curſe of God will ſowre the whole lump of thy family-bleſſings. I have ſeen the fooliſh taking root, but ſuddenly I curſed his habitation, Job 5.3. The words are not a malediction from Eliphaz private ſpirit, but a prediction from Gods ſpirit, as if he had ſaid I was neither malicious againſt his perſon, nor envious at his proſperous condition, but by the help of the Holy Ghoſt, I foreſaw his deſtruction, that though his houſe was built high, yet his unholineſs would lay it low. Thou mayſt poſſibly preſume that though thou liveſt without God, yet thou art beyond the reach of his rod; thou canſt mote thy houſe round againſt the fire of divine fury, but thy confidence ſhall be rooted out of thy tabernacle, and brimſtone ſhall be ſcattered on thy habitation. God will unkennel all ſuch foxes, and drag them to their deſerved deſtruction. When Diocleſian the Perſecutor retired from the Empire to a private life, Fuſeb. l…b. 5. De vit. Conſtant.after he had feathered his neſt, fire rained down from Heaven and conſumed his houſe. When Nicephorus Phocas had built a mighty Wall about his Pallace for his defence, he heard a voice in the night ſaying, Though thou buildeſt thy wals as high as heaven, ſin is within, and that will pluck it down. The Leprous houſe muſt be pul'd down. God will have every Brick, Stone, Tile, and piece of Timber down. Where is the Houſe of the Prince? and p. 523where is the dwelling place of the wicked? Job 21.28.

Atheiſm in thy houſe will bring a curſe upon thy calling, Job 5.2, 3. The works of thy hands will fare the worſe for the wickedneſs of thy heart: On thy children (its ill to be related to a Traytor) diſeaſes, and ſo deſtruction may be hereditary. Children may inherit both their Parents riches and ruine, Job 5.4, 5. Iſa. 14.20. His ſeed are far from ſafety, they are cruſhed. When a wicked man pulls down his houſe upon his head, many in it periſh with him; as when Sampſon pulled the houſe down upon the Philiſtines.

The curſe of God will be a moth in thy Wardrobe, murrain among thy cattel, mildew in the field, the plague to thy body, wrath to thy ſoul, will indeed make thy houſe a very hell upon earth. The higheſt Family in the World without godlineſs, though never ſo rich and ruffling, is but like Golgatha, a place full of frightful skulls; and like a Church-yard, full of carkaſſes, gilded, rotten, and golden Damnation.

I ſhall now lay down ſome Directions how thou may exerciſe thy ſelf to godlineſs, as the Governor of a Family.

Firſt, Be careful whom thou admitteſt into thy Family: Art thou unmarried, and to chuſe an Husband or Wife? Do thy occaſions call for a man-ſervant, or a maid-ſervant? Be careful where thou fixeſt; for believe it, not onelyonly thy grace will appear in a good choice, but alſo godlineſs will be much hindred or furthered by thy choice: One ſinner deſtroyeth much good, Eccleſ. 9.18. One p. 524man may pull down that houſe, which many with much care, coſt and pains did ſet up. We read, that wicked men have been the better, for taking godly men into their families, as Laban and Potiphar; but we never read that godly men were ever the better for having wicked perſons into their families; nay, how much have they been the worſe, and by ſuch been brought to great wickedneſs! As black corn, they ſmut and ſully the good corn; as ruſty armor, they injure that which is bright, by being near it. The Lacedemonians were ſo ſenſible of this, that they would not ſuffer a ſtranger to abide among them above three daies, leſt by his evil example, he ſhould corrupt others. And wilt thou, Friend, take them into thy houſe to dwell with thee, that will bring the plague along with them, and thereby probably deſtroy the bodies and ſouls of others? Canſt thou think it ſafe, for a little Worldly advantage, to be nigh them who are under Gods fury, and next door to eternal fire? Shall thy Houſe be as Noahs Ark, abounding in Creatures clean and unclean, when God commandeth thee to worſhip him uprightly, with thy whole family? I hope, Chriſtian, betthings of thee. It was written over Plato's door, foreign, There is no man may come hither, who is not a Geometer. Let it be written over thy door, None may expect to dwell here, who will not make Religion his buſineſs.

Magnus a Roman Orator complaineth of St. Hicrom Epiſt. Tom. ….Hierom that he brought many uncircumciſed Greeks into the Temple, and defiled Candorem p. 525Eccleſiae ſordibus Ethnicorum, the unſtained chaſtity of the Church with the impure Sentences of Heathen Authors. Take heed that thou doſt not defile the Church of God (for ſuch thy houſe ſhould be) with Heathen themſelves in Chriſtian Habits.

If thou wanteſt a Wife, conſider before thou chooſeſt: Take heed whom thou takeſt into thy bed, into thy boſom, leſt thou meeteſt with a Yoke-fellow that will draw as ſtrongly towards Hell, as thou doſt towards Heaven. It is rendred as the reaſon why one of the Kings of Iſrael was ſo wicked, becauſe he had to Wife the daughter of Ahab. There is little work to be done, when the ſecond horſe in the teem is always drawing back. The Devil can make uſe of Eve, to draw thee to undo thy ſelf and poſterity: He can make uſe of the rib (ſaith the Father, alluding to that part of man out of which the woman was taken) to break thy head. The Heathen tell us, that every man when he marrieth, bringeth a good or an evil Spirit into his houſe, and thereby makes his houſe either a Heaven or a Hell.

Be ſure that wickedneſs do not woo for thee: Do not ſend the unclean Spirits either of luſt or covetouſneſs, or pride, to make the match. When men do as thoſe Sons of God, Gen. 6.1.Gen 6:1who ſaw the Daughters of men, that they were fair, and took them Wives of them, Gen. 6.1. hand over head; it is no wonder that they are married and marr'd together. Conſider, a Wife or a Husband, is the greateſt outward comfort or Croſs in this World; and let prayer be the meſſenger thou imployeſt about it: A p. 526good wife is from the Lord, Prov. 19.14. It is Gods ſpecial gift, and therefore do thou go to him for it. Peter Martyr ſaith, That Adam in that deep ſleep in which God formed Eve out of him, was then praying for a meet help: And Iſaac went forth to pray, when he had ſent forth for a Wife. He had need to have good counſel, who is to take one to be his conſtant companion. When Joſhua entred into a League with the Gibeonites, and never asked counſel of God, how ſad were the effects of it! If thou entreſt into a League with a man or a maid (for I know not what Sex thou art of) and doſt not ask counſel of God, expect a ſad conſequence of ſuch raſhneſs. Why ſhouldſt thou, as our Proverb is, for a little land, take a fool by the hand; ſell the comfort of thy life, for a little periſhing wealth, and make thy whole time on earth bitter, out of a love to a little fading Treaſure.

It was the advice of the late Earl of Salisbury, in his Book of Precepts to his Son, That he ſhould be exceeding careful whom he matched with, becauſe as in a project of War, when an Army is foiled by the Enemy, they ſeldom recover; ſo to erre once in the choice of a Wife, is uſually to be undone for ever; and the more cauſe there is of ſpecial care, becauſe he that ſeeketh out for a wife, goeth to a Lottery, where he ſhall meet with ahundred blanks for one prize.

But I am perſwading thee to circumſpection in this particular, not upon a Politick, but a Conſciencious principle, as thou wouldſt exalt Religion p. 527in thy habitation. Next to thy ſelf, thy Wife will be the beſt friend, or worſt foe, that Godlineſs can have in thy Family. Nay, poſſibly, and probably too, if thy Wife ſhould be wicked, though thou art at preſent like a ſound Apple, thou mayſt quickly be ſpeckt, by lying neer one that is all over rotten: The nearer the relation, the eaſier and ſpeedier is the infection. He that could overcome a Lyon to his glory, was himſelf overcome by a woman to his ſin and ſhame. The moſt perfect man, Adam; the ſtrongeſt man, Sampſon; the wiſeſt man, Solomon; were all betrayed by their Wives into the hands of their ſpiritual Enemies; the meekeſt man, Moſes, hearkened ſo much to his Wife, that it was like to have coſt him his life. Some Expoſitors give this reaſon why Satan ſpared Jobs Wife, when he ſlew his children, not to comfort him (ſurely the Devil did not love Job ſo well) but to croſs him, by provoking him to curſe God: The Devil knew that none was ſo fit to preſent that poyſonous potion with ſucceſs to Job, as his Wife; that if he ever took it, her fair hands muſt give it, and her ſugred words ſweeten it. Solomon ſaith, Wo be to him that is alone; ſurely it is alſo true, Wo be to him who is not alone, but hath a wicked wife like a ſnake in his boſom.

Reader, Doſt thou want a Servant? chooſe for God, not for thy ſelf: Let not thy main quaere be, Whether he can do thy work; but, Whether he will ſubmit to Gods Word: Though the former muſt not be neglected, yet the latter muſt be preferred. It may be for advantage ſake, thou p. 528receiveſt a drunken or ſwearing perſon into thy houſe; but doſt thou conſider that he will be an Achan, a troubler of thy Family? Canſt thou think to do Gods work with the Devils tools? Put off thy diſguiſe of Chriſtianity, if thou eſteemeſt thy particular calling above thy general. Beſides, Doſt thou know what thou haſt done? thou haſt taken into thy houſe an Uſher to inſtruct thy children in the black Art of Hell: Believe it, thy children will catch ſins as ſoon as vermine, from thoſe that are of Satans ragged Regiment: Thy Sons and Daughters are like Polypus in Aelian, that turneth to the colour of that rock, or weed in the Sea, which lieth neareſt. Once more, thou wilt be fruſtrated in the end, of thy entertaining ſuch a ſervant; for they will never be faithful to their Maſter, who are unfaithful to their Maker. Conſtantius, the Father of famous Conſtantine, gave out, That all ſuch as would not deny the faith, ſhould be deprived of their honor and offices: Whereupon ſeveral forſook the Faith, others ſtuck cloſe to the Truth: Whereupon the Emperor when he had diſcovered thoſe halting, hypocritical perſons, turned them all out of their places, ſaying, That they who were falſe to God, would never be faithful to man: I do a little queſtion his policy in the premiſes; but his piety in the concluſion is out of queſtion; for they who will rob God of his glory, will (if opportunity ſerve) rob men of their goods and good name too. It is recorded to the credit of Queen Elizabeth, that ſhe would ſuffer no Lady to approach her p. 529preſence, of whoſe diſhoneſty ſhe had the leaſt ſuſpition. Friend, mark and follow the man after Gods own heart. Mine eyes ſhall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: He that walketh in a perfect way, he ſhall ſerve me. He that worketh deceit ſhall not dwell within my houſe; he that telleth lies ſhall not tarry in my ſight, Pſa. 101.6, 7.

As thou wouldſt have Gods company in thy family, do not entertain his enemies into thy family. What communion hath God with Belial. As thou wouldſt make Religion thy buſineſs, avoid thoſe quench-coals, thoſe hinderers of holineſs, Bid the workers of iniquity depart, if thou wouldſt keep the commandments of thy God, Pſalm. 119.115.

Secondly, Mind holy performances in thy family; Every Maſter of a Family is a Prieſt, and his whole family ſhould be a royal Prieſthood, offering at leaſt morning and evening ſacrifice to God, Ita ha…eto ſolicitudinem D… musut aliquam tamen vacationem animae tribuas Hier. ad Celant.acceptable through Jeſus Chriſt. The Jews had ſacrifice in their Families, as well as in the Tabernacle, Exod. 12.2. Let me go I pray thee, for our family hath a ſacrifice in the City, ſaith David to Jonathan, 1 Sam. 6.20.

It was propheſied that in the days of the Goſpel, the ſpirit ſhould be poured down upon men, and they ſhould ſee Chriſt, and mourn every family apart, Zac. 2.10. It was the advice of Hierom to a pious Matron; So take care of thine houſe as alway to allow liberty and time to thy ſoul; the Governour hath the cure of the p. 530ſouls, as well as of the bodies in his familie; and if he mind their outward man and neglecteth their inward, he is but a brute in humane ſhape, for beaſts feed the bodies of their young.

As the School fitteth young men for the Univerſity; ſo holy performances in private, prepare ſervants and children for, and help them to profit by the Ordinances of God in publique. A foundation well laid by the Maſter of a Family, is a great help to the Miniſter, when he goeth to rear and raiſe the building: Confident I am, our work would not have half that difficulty which now it hath, if Maſters of Families would but do their duties; he that findeth his timber ready hewn to his hand, hath a great advantage in ſetting up an houſe, of him that muſt fell, bark, ſeaſon and hew it himſelf. It is no wonder that an Apprentice is ſo backward to his work, and ſo bungling at it when he is wholly unacquainted with it, and a ſtranger to it; If Children and Servants were accuſtomed to religious exerciſes at home, Sermons would not be ſo tedious, nor Sabbaths ſo tireſome to them as they are.

The ordinary duties in Families are prayer, reading the Word, with inſtructing Children and Servants out of it, and ſinging.

1. Dr. Bernard in his life and death.Prayer muſt be in families; Its ſaid of Biſhop Ʋſher, that he had Family prayer four times a day. At ſix in the morning, & eight at night, and before dinner and Supper in his Chappel, David returned to bleſs his houſe, 2 Sam. 6.21. that is, ſay Expoſitors, to bleſs God with his Family, and to beg p. 531Gods bleſſing on his family. He ſter prayed and faſted with her Maidens, Heſt. 4.16. The holy Ghoſt enjoyneth Husband and wife, to dwell together as fellow-heirs of the grace of life, that their prayers be not hindered, 1 Pet. 3.7. Our bleſſed Saviour is to be our pattern, now he prayed with his family of Diſciples; And it came to paſs as he was alone praying, his Diſciples were with him, Luk. 9.18. He was alone, not ſecretly, to exclude all ſociety, but privately, to include onelyonly his own family. Our Houſes are Gods Houſes, and in Gods Houſe there muſt every day be morning and evening Sacrifice; I will that men pray every where, ſurely then in private as well as in ſecret, and in publique, 1 Tim. 2.8. Families need direction in the day, and protection in the night, and truely either of them is worth a prayer. Thy family ſins muſt be pardoned, thy family wants muſt be ſupplied, and if they do not deſerve a prayer they deſerve nothing. Horſes kneel before they lye down at night, and when they riſe up in the morning; and ſhall thy houſe be worſe then a ſtable of beaſts!

They that will not beg family ſupplies, and bleſſe God for family mercies, may well be branded for ungodly and ungrateful wrethces. Prayer and prayſe are like the double motion of the lungs; what we ſuck in by petition, we breath out in thankſgiving, and without this, Religion cannot live in a family. What dangers are thy family liable to every day, and without prayer thou haſt no guide, no guard? Origen going once to comfort a Martyr was himſelf apprehended and conſtrained p. 532either to have his body abuſed by a Blackamore, or to offer to the Idol; which latter he did, but bewailing it ſaith, I went out that morning without prayer, which I know was the cauſe of that evil.

Its ſaid of the Egyptians, that there was a great cry at midnight, for in every houſe there was one dead. Reader, are there not dead ſouls in thy family, Children and ſervants dead in ſins, and treſpaſſes, and ſhall there be no cry, no complaining to God there! I muſt tell thee thy houſe is worſe then a Peſt-houſe, for thou haſt infected, and dangerouſly diſeaſed ſouls in it, and not ſo much as Lord have mercy upon us, written on thy door. Heathens, and families without prayer, are fitly joyned together, Jerem. 10. ult. The truth is, ſuch perſons are Engliſh in their language, but Indian in their Athieſtical carriage. They feed and cloath their bodies like Engliſh men, but they ſtarve and go naked in their ſouls, like Indians. OnelyOnly herein they differ, that they cannot be prayerleſs in their Houſes at ſo cheap a rate, but muſt expect an hotter Hell, becauſe they ſin againſt a clearer light. Many families are the picture of Hell, one may hear twenty Oaths for one prayer; the Maſter will often curſe but ſeldom or never bleſs his family; he loveth curſing, ſo it will come to him, and as he delighted not in bleſſing, ſo it will be far from him.

Do not ſay, thou canſt not pray. Had the father of ſpirits ever any dumb children. Every begger at thy door who is pinched with hunger, will p. 535tell thee, that ſence of miſery will teach thee to be earneſt for mercy. If thou wert condemned to be hanged, thou wouldſt not want words to p…en for a pardon. Surely eternal death to which thou art liable is far more lamentable, and if ever God make thee ſenſible of it (which muſt be done or thou art loſt for ever) thou will quickly follow him with prayers and tears for grace and life.

Thy affections in prayer, if right, will abundantly make up thy want of expreſſions: A ſanctified Heart, is better then a ſilver Tongue. Though thou haſt not the gift of prayer, yet if if thou canſt act grace in prayer, all will be well.

Pray much in ſecret, and thou wilt quickly learn to pray well in private: Uſe at any Trade, will make me prompt and perfect.

Rather uſe a form out of a Book, then omit the duty. They who cannot dreſs their meat themſelves, muſt be beholden to their Neighbours to do it for them: Set upon it preſently, it is thy honor, thy priviledge, and uſe crutches till thou art able to go alone; onelyonly do not content thy ſelf with them (Alas, who ever was proud of ſtilts!) but labour to gain knowledge in ſpiritual things, by reading, ſecret praying and conference, that thou mayeſt throw them away.

2. The Word of God muſt be read in thy Family, and thy Houſhold inſtructed there: As by prayer thy duty is to acquaint God with thy family-wants; ſo by reading ſome portion of Scripture daily, thy duty is to acquaint thy family with Gods will. An houſe without light, is in a dreadful, lamentable p. 532duplicate page p. 335duplicate page p. 534condition; Thy houſhold without the Word, ſit in darkneſs, and thereby in the ſhadow of death. The Commandment is a lamp, and the Law is Light, Prov. 6.23. Alas, how can thy ſervants or children do their heavenly Maſters and Fathers work, when they are wholly ignorant of his will. The weeds of ſin grow of themſelves, but the ground muſt be ploughed, and ſown, and harrowed, and watered, before good Corn will ſpring up.

God expecteth that thou ſhouldſt be both a Prieſt to offer up Sacrifice for, and a Prophet to inſtruct and teach thy Family. A good Houſekeeper is like that Nobleman, who had for his impreſs two boundles of ripe Millet, with this Motto, Servare & ſervari meum eſt; for the nature of Millet is (ſay ſome) to guard it ſelf from corruption, and that which lieth neareſt to it. The Word of God, and holy inſtructions to a Family, are as ſalt which is helpful againſt putrifaction, Mat. 5. Ye are the ſalt of the earth. Maſters muſt be ſure to have ſalt in themſelves, and for their families: Its ſaid, that the Hammanients in Cyrene made their houſes of ſalt hewn out of their hills in maner of ſtone. Hierom counſelled Leta, Let thy children daily give thee ſome account of ſome choice flowers gathered out of thy Bible. Teach thy children to remember their creatour in the days of their youths. It is too late to ſeaſon fleſh when it crawleth with wormes; Do it therefore betimes. Biſhop Rider read and expounded the Pſalm 101. (which treateth the good Government p. 535of Families) often to his houſhould, and hired them with mony to learn it.

Abraham had letters teſtimonial from Heaven of his ſincerity, and the favour to be truſted with Arcana imperii, Gods ſecrets, becauſe of his faithfulneſs in this particular. And the Lord ſaid ſhall I hide from Abraham the things which I do? For I know him that he will command his Children and his Houſe hold after him, and they ſhall keep the Way of the Lord, Gen. 18.17, 19. O how few Abrahams are there in England? Many teach their Families the works of the Devil, but few teach them the way of the Lord; many lop their trees, prune their plants, break their horſes, train their hauks, yea teach their dogs, yet never inſtruct their children.

Friend, conſider the worth of thy children and ſervants ſouls, and the weight of their everlaſting eſtates, and how in the dark of ignorance they muſt unavoidably ſtumble into Hell; and for the Lords ſake be perſwaded to inſtruct them in the knowledge of the true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent, John 17.3. Naturaliſts tell us that bees carry ſmall gravel in their feet to poiſe their bodies as they fly through ſtormy Winds. If thou wouldſt not have thy little ones blown away with the Winds of temptations, do thou labour to poiſe them with the principles of the Oracles of God, Ah what pity is it that men, like ſilly Doves, without hearts, ſhould ſit in their Dove-coats, ſee their Neſts deſtroyed, and their young ones killed before their eyes, but the old Manſlayer the Devil, p. 536and never ſtir or offer once to reſcue or revenge them! Good Lord, what unnaturalneſs is is many Parents and Maſters! Cardan ſpeaks of one that had a receipt for the certain diſſolving the ſtone in the bladder, and I queſtion not (ſaith he) but he is damned for not diſcovering it before his death: Thou knoweſt the word under God muſt cure the perſons in thy family of the ſtone in the heart, and wilt thou neglect to acquaint them with it, but ſuffer them to dye eternally. O Reader, be not guilty of ſuch horrid and barbarous cruelty. Do as that holy Biſhop of Armagh, who one day in every week did Catechiſe his family. It is reported of Lewis the ninth of France, that he was found inſtructing a poor Kitchin Boy, and being asked the reaſon, anſwered piouſly, I know the meaneſt in my family hath a ſoul as precious as my own, and bought with the blood of Jeſus Chriſt. Our Saviour taught his Diſciples often in private as their Governor, and according to their capacities, Mar. 4.33. Mat. 16.17, 18. It is an honour to the higheſt prince to teach his Houſhold Gods precepts. O let thy words in thy family, as the waters of Nilus, often overflow to make others fruitful. The Papiſts confeſs that all the ground which we have got of them is by Chatechiſing and inſtructing our youth.

3. Singing of Pſalms muſt be uſed in thy family. The Lord Ieſus and his family did practice this duty, Mat. 26.30. And when they ſang an Hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. David in that Pſalm, at the dedication of his houſe ſpeaketh that his glory ſhould ſing praiſe to God and not be ſilent, p. 537Pſal. 30. Title, ver. 4. and ult. Our tongues are called our glory, not onelyonly becauſe by our ſpeech we excel beaſts, but chiefly becauſe therewith we ſhould glorifie God. It is obſervable that moſt of thoſe places which propheſie the Gentiles converſion, do mention their worſhipping the true God by ſinging, Pſa. 108.3. and 100. Pſa. 66.4. Iſa. 54.1. and 52.8. The Holy Ghoſt when he commandeth that the word ſhould keep houſe with us, doth alſo enjoyn us to teach and admoniſh one another in Pſalms, and Hymns, and ſpiritual Songs (which are the titles of Davids Pſalms, and the known diviſion of them expreſly anſwering to the Hebrew words, Shurim, Tehillim and Mizinurim, by which his Pſalms are diſtinguiſhed and entitled, as the learned obſerve) ſinging and making melody with grace in our hearts to the Lord, Col. 3.16. Epheſ. 5.19. Baſilde Virt & laud. Pſa. Tom. 1Jam 5.13. Baſil ſpeaks high in the prayſe of prayſing God by this holy exerciſe. Chryſoſtom ſpeaketh of ſome in his time who always concluded their ſuppers with ſinging a Pſalm, and ſaith he, they lived like Angels.

This ordinance will much quicken holy affections, and help a Chriſtian to ſerve God with more chearfulneſs. When the Iſraelites were ſinging the hundred and thirty ſix Pſalm at the bringing in the Ark, the glory of the Lord filled the Houſe, 2 Chron. 20.22. The ſweet ſinger in Iſrael was the man after Gods own heart.

OnelyOnly Reader be careful to ſing Davids Pſalms with Davids ſpirit, and not like a Nightingale to ſing by rote; I will ſing with my ſpirit, and I will p. 538ſing with underſtanding, alſo making melody with grace in the heart, is the beſt tune to ſet all Davids Pſalms with.

Thirdly, Set a good pattern to thy family. The fore-horſe in the Team had need to go right, becauſe all the reſt follow in the ſame road. If the Commander be treacherous, how ſoon may he betray his Souldiers, who follow him at the heels, into the enemies hands!

A governour of a family, muſt like Moſes, be mighty both in word and deed. Patterns are very prevalent both to good and evil. Precepts teach, but examples draw. Why compelleſt thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? Gal. 2.14. Peter did not compel them by his Preaching, but by his pattern. His example was ſo powerful, that even Barnabas (as well as others) was drawn away therewith. It is obſervable that Jeroboam ſeldom appeareth in the Heaven of Scripture, but in the form of a Blazing Star, with a tayl after him, Jeroboam the ſon of Nebat who made Iſrael to ſin; by his precepts he commanded them to ſin, but by his pattern he compelled them to ſin. As examples are attractive to evil, ſo alſo to good. That if any beleive not, they may be won without the word by the converſation of the wife, 1 Pet. 3.1, 2. If godlineſs be written in the book of thy life, in a fair Character, in a large lovely letter, it may invite thy children and ſervants to read and like it, who otherwiſe poſſibly would not have taken the leaſt notice of it.

He that ruleth others, muſt not be unruly himſelf. p. 539If a ruler hearken to lies, all his ſervants are wicked, Pro. 29.12. If a Governour of a family, a father, or mother be a Drunkard, a Swearer, or an Atheiſt, their Children will quickly imitate them; They will as certainly inherit their luſts, as their lands. As ſome parents make their Children rich by their Lordſhips, ſo they make them riotous by their evil lives. Obſerve, Abraham, a good man, denyeth his Wife; Iſaac is his heir not onelyonly in his wealth, but alſo in that weakneſs; Iſaac denieth his Wife likewiſe, Gen. 20.2. with Gen. 26 7. Jacobs wives got little good by the pattern and practice of Laban their father, Gen. 31.19. and 35.1, 2.

The Parents of the Children deſtroyed by the two ſhe-Bears, were wont to jeer Elijah in their ordinary talk; What Elijah the bald-pate muſt be taken up to Heaven, Forſooth, as well as Elias. The Chidren hearing it ſpoken by them, learned it of them, though they paid dear for their learning, for it coſt them their lives, and for ought I know their ſouls, 2 King. 2.24. O Reader, doth not thine heart ake to read this, and haſt thou not abundant cauſe to be heedful, leſt by thy pattern thou ſhouldſt draw thy Children to ſin, and to Hell! The Idolatrous Iſraelites drew their children to joyn with them in the Worſhip of falſe Gods, Ezek. 18.2.

Plutarch obſerveth of Cato that he was very wary not to ſpeak an uncomely word in the preſence of his Children. Plut. in vit Cat.This Heathen will condemn many Chriſtians, who will curſe, and ſwear, and p. 540drink and roar, and that in preſence of their children; Reader, avoid ſin, both for thy own and others ſake. As a ſtone thrown into the water, makes but one circle at firſt, but that one begetteth many; ſo though the ſin in thee at firſt be but one, ye it may cauſe many both in thy children and ſervants. The ſin of a Maſter or Miſtris is like an infectious Air, which others breathing in are infected by it. Thy ſervants will as readily put on thy luſts as thy livery, and thy Children will be proud of ſuch a patronage, ſuch a cloak for their villany. A dark eye benights the whole body. Weigh all thy words and all thy works, conſidering how many followers thou haſt, he that ſinneth once, ſinneth twice if he ſin before others.

Be ſerious and diligent about the concernments of God and thy ſoul, that others may take example by thee. The biggeſt Stars are brighteſt and give light to thoſe that are of a leſſer magnitude; Thou who art the greateſt, ſhouldſt be the moſt gracious in the family; if the Sun ſhine not on the mountains, it muſt needs be ſet in the vallies. If thy children and ſervants behold thee careful of thy language, and conſciencious in thy carriage, when they ſee thee humble, fervent, conſtant and ſerious in holy duties, they may learn by thee and write after thee; ſuch a patten may tend exceedingly to thy ſpiritual profit.

It is obſerved of Caeſar by Cicero, that he would never ſay to his Souldiers Ite ſed Venite, Go ye, but, Come ye, marching before them himſelf, and giving them a pattern. Do thou Reader, go before p. 541thy Family in Sobriety and Sanctity, as their faithful Captain, and they may ſooner then thou expecteſt follow after thee.

Naturaliſts tell us of the Mulberry tree, that there is nothing in it but what is Medicinal in ſome ſort or other; the fruit, the root, the bark, the leaf, all are uſeful. Truly, ſo it ought to be with thee: All thy expreſſions, all thy actions ſhould be inſtructions to thy Inferiours. Thy behaviour in private, in publique towards God, towards thy Wife, towards thy Children, towards thy Servants, towards thy Neighbours, ſhould all be Lectures to teach others Religion and Righteouſneſs; that you may be able to ſay to your Children, as Seneca to his Siſter, Though I can leave you no great portion, yet I leave you a good pattern.

Beſides, one work required of thee (as I ſhall ſhew thee before the concluſion of this Chapter) is, to admoniſh and reprove others in thy family for their faults; which with what face canſt thou do, or with what hope of ſucceſs, unleſs thou art free thy ſelf? It was a ſhame to Plutarch that his Servant ſhould ſay, My Maſter writeth falſly; he ſaith it is unbeſeeming a Philoſopher to be angry, & ipſe mihi iraſcitur, and he himſelf is angry with me. If thou reproveſt thy childe for not praying, and thy ſervant for drunkenneſs, and art guilty thy ſelf, though thou acquainteſt them never ſo much with the wrath of God, which will certainly ſeize upon Atheiſts and Drunkards, they will never believe thee; for they know thou doſt not believe thy p. 542ſelf. Thy words would ſeem to draw the nail of ſin out, but thy works are ſuch an heavy hammer, that they drive it in to the very head. When the rude Souldiers ſaw the Roman Senators ſit gravely, and diſcourſe ſoberly, they took them for gods, and were awful of them; but when they perceived one of them to grow waſpiſh, they took them for men, and ſpoiled them. Herod feared Johns reproof, knowing that he was a juſt man, Mark 6.20. Where there is piety in the perſon, there is majeſtie and authority in the reprehenſion. Let the Righteous ſmite me, Pſal. 141.5. The Snuffers of the Sanctuary were of pure gold: He that would reprove others dimneſs, and make them ſhine brightly with the light of holineſs, had need to be irreproveable himſelf.

Reader, walk unſpottedly; otherwiſe when thou threateneſt thy children or ſervants with the judgements of God againſt fin, thou doſt, like David, paſs a ſentence of death and condemnation againſt thy own ſoul.

Fourthly, Be careful and diligent that thy whole Family may ſanctifie the Lords Day: When the Iſraelites were to ſacrifice to God in the Wilderneſs, they went with ther little ones, and all their houſholds, Exod. 12. When Elkanah went up to ſacrifice to the Lord, all his houſe went with him, 1 Sam. 1.21. Thy duty is, according to theſe examples, to ſee that all thy family (unleſs neceſſity ſhould hinder) ſerve the Lord in publique. Do not ſuffer any of thine to be playing idly in the Churchyard, when they ſhould be praying earneſtly, p. 543in the Church; nor to be talking vainly of the World, when they ſhould be hearkning reverently to the Word. O what pity is it, that they ſhould be ſucking poyſon, when they ſhould be ſucking milk out of the breaſts of Conſolation! The fourth Commandment doth fully ſpeak thy duty, not onelyonly to be careful that they forbear thy work, but alſo that they minde Gods Worſhip. Thou knoweſt not, but that thy childe or ſervant, by miſſing one ſeaſon, may miſs of ſalvation. Poſſibly they are wrought hard in the Week days, and have very little time for their ſouls, ſo that their onelyonly time of improving their ſpiritual ſtock, by trading towards Heaven, is on a Sabbath Day. Or it may be they are careleſs of their main work (of providing for the other World) all the Week, that if thou ſhouldſt neglect them on the Lords Day, they will he left under a neceſſity of periſhing: Surely they who have but one good meal in ſeven days, and are robbed of that, are unconceiveably wronged. When David came to his Brethren to the Camp, Eliab ſaid to him, How cameſt thou down hither? Where is the flock? and with whom haſt thou left thoſe few ſheep in the Wilderneſs? (1 Sam. 17.28.) I know the pride, and the haughtineſs of thy heart. Give not God cauſe to greet thee thus at Church, How cameſt thou hither? Where is thy flock, thy Family? With whom haſt thou left thoſe few ſheep, thy Children, and thy Servants? I know thy pride, they are not good enough to come along with thee, or to be minded by thee: or, I know thy covetouſneſs, thou haſt imployed them p. 544about earthly buſineſſes: or, I know thy careleſneſs and Soul-cruelty, thou careſt not what becometh of them, whether they be ſaved or damned for ever. I tell thee Friend, ſome Gentlemen by going abroad alone without their ſervants, have loſt their ſilver; and for ought I know, by thy going to Church without thy company, thou mayeſt loſe the bleſſing and efficacy of the Ordinances. How canſt thou expect that God ſhould have any care of thy ſoul, when thou trampleſt the precious ſouls of others under thy feet, which he hath given thee ſpecial charge of?

O Reader, think of it; Are not thy children and Servants ſtrangers to God, and alienated from his life, through the ignorance that is in them? And is not the Miniſtery of the Word appointed to turn men from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan to God? How ſhall they be converted, if the Ordinances of God be neglected? Though a perſon be dangerouſly diſeaſed, if he obſerve his purging days, according to the advice of his able Phyſician, there may be hopes of recovery; but if he neglect the means, if he periſh, it will be no marvel: If thy children and Servants are holy, canſt thou expect the fire of Grace ſhould continue or encreaſe, whilſt thou takeſt away the fuel? Doſt thou think that Spiritual Life can be maintained without Spiritual Meat?

In private alſo be watchful over thy Family, that all under thy charge be preſent at holy duties, as Singing, Praying, repetition of Sermons, and the like: Thou art careful that in the Week days p. 545they do work diligently; and why ſhouldſt thou not be as careful that they do Gods work on his day? Is thy work of greater concernment then Gods? or doſt thou love thy ſelf, the poor withering World I mean, above the bleſſed God?

Examine thoſe who waited on the Word of God in publique, what good they have got, what leſſons they have learned from the great Maſter of Aſſemblies? Our Saviour after Sermon, asked thoſe of his Family, Have ye underſtood all theſe Sayings? Mat. 13.5. Hereby thou wilt make them more attentive in publique Ordinances, and better their memories; as alſo, by this means, thou mayeſt quicken thy own affections.

Suffer none of thy houſe to ſpend any part of the day either in idleneſs, paſtimes, or worldly buſineſs. Thou art accountable to God as well for ſins of permiſſion, as for ſins of commiſſion; and it will another day be imputed to thy charge, if the day be prophaned by thy careleſneſs: If thou wouldſt not ſuffer for others, do not ſuffer others in ſin.

Fifthly, Let Diſcipline be ſet up in thy Family: When Jacob would dedicate his houſe to God, he commandeth all his Family to change their garments, and put away their ſtrange gods: Their change of garments, did ſignifie that change of heart and life which he deſired ſhould be his houſholds livery, Gen. 35.1, 2. As the Governor of a Family muſt be a Prieſt to pray, and a Prophet to teach, ſo alſo a King to rule; to be a terror to evil doers, and an encouragement to them that do p. 546well in his family: Let not wickedneſs dwell in thy Tabernacle, Job 11.14. Zophar meaneth not a natural or perſonal (though ſo the word is ſometimes taken, as 2 Cor. 5.1.) but a domeſtical and civil Tabernacle. Though ſin may come into thy houſe by children or ſervants commiſſion, yet it muſt not dwell there, but be caſt out by ſevere reprehenſion. Wickedneſs is a bold gueſt, it will come uncalled; but it muſt be more bold then welcome; it muſt not dwell in thy Tabernacle. It is ſaid of Cato, he would bear with faults any where rather then at home. Biſhop Jewel at night called his ſervants to an account how they had ſpent the day, and after prayer, admoniſhed them accordingly.

Thy duty is to warn the unruly, 1 Theſſ. 5.13. to acquaint them of ſin (how near and dear ſoever to thee) with the diſhonor they bring thereby to God, the diſgrace to the Goſpel, and the diſadvantage and deſtruction to their own ſouls. If the fault be the firſt, or of infirmity, or not ſo great a ſin as to waſte the conſcience, and poyſon thy family by its pattern, let the medicine thou applieſt for its cure be milde: Earthen glaſſes muſt be tenderly waſhed, when iron veſſels muſt be ſcoured with wiſps: Of ſome have compaſſion, making a difference, Jude v. 22. Who would that is wiſe, give the ſame phyſick to an infant, which would purge a luſty grown perſon? Iſa. 28.27, 28. For the fitches are not threſhed with a threſhing inſtrument, neither is a cart-wheel turned about with the Cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a ſtaff, and the Cummin with a rod.

p. 547If the crime be crimſom, and ſcandalous, or repeated, or juſtified, rebuke ſharply; hard knots muſt have ſtrong and ſharp wedges: Others ſave with fear, pulling them out of the fire, Jude v. 23. In ſuch a caſe, weak phyſick will onelyonly ſtir, not remove the diſeaſe, and thereby leave the Patient in a worſe condition then it found him. Nettles touched gently, ſting the more: A prick with a rapier is more dangerous ſometimes then a wound with a ſword, becauſe the latter wideneth the orifice, and thereby maketh the place more open to the plaiſter which ſhould heal it. It is much better for them to be preſerved in brine and pickle, then to rot in fleſh-pleaſing and fondneſs. Kindeneſs, and bearing with ſuch in thy family, is like the kiſs of Judas to Chriſt, a betraying them; and like Joabs ſalutation to Abner, deſtroying and killing them.

Be ſure therefore not to bear with any under thy charge in ſin: Have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs, but rather reprove them. He is a drone unſerviceable to his houſe, his hive, who hath loſt this ſting of reproof. Pious Aſa would not ſuffer ſin in his own Mother: Aſa removed his mother Maachah from being Queen, becauſe ſhe made an Idol in a grove; and Aſa cut down her Idol, and ſtamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron, 2 Chron. 15.16. Patient Job would not ſuffer ſin in his own Wife; Thou ſpeakeſt like a fooliſh woman, Job 2.6. Plain-hearted Jacob would not ſuffer ſin his his own Children, Ye have troubled me, to make me to ſtink among the inhabitants p. 548of the Land: Curſed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel, Gen. 34.30. and 49.7. David would not abide ſin in a Servant, Pſal. 101.7. nor Edward the ſixth in his own Siſter.

Let thy reproofs againſt ſin be mingled with, and ſo managed, that they may manifeſt love to to their ſouls. When the nail is dipt in greaſe, it entreth without renting the board: When reprehenſion is dipt in, and tipt with love, it will probably enter the heart without cutting it in pieces with rage and revenge. Prudence may do much towards the advancement of the offendors profit in this particular.

Though thy words ſhould be ſoft, yet thine Arguments ſhould be hard againſt the ſin committed: To this end, let thy reproofs be as near as may be in Scripture phraſes, that the offendor may ſee it is not ſo much man as God, who rebuketh him for his fault. The Word is a hammer, if well laid on, it will drive the nail of reproof to the head. If the oyl of reprehenſion be gently and prudently bathed in by the hot fire of the Word, it may abate very great ſwellings. But be ſure to perform this duty: The Magiſtrate who ſpareth a man ſlayer, Spencer, 182.576.is guilty of his ſecond murther: Plato ſeeing a childe commit a fault, went and corrected his Father. The Maſter of a family who alloweth any in ſin, is partaker of their ſin: We perpetrate thoſe ſins which we may, and do not prevent; we ſhall anſwer one day for ſins of communion, as well as for ſins of commiſſion. O how p. 349miſerable will thy condition be, when the provocations in thy Family (which thou knoweſt of, and winkeſt at) ſhall all be charged upon thee! Naturaliſts tell us, that if a Serpent eat a Serpent, it becomes a Dragon: If thou to thy own ſins, adde the ſins of thy children and ſervants, what a Monſter in ſin wilt thou be? Are not thy own ſins heavy enough? doſt thou want more load upon thy precious ſoul to ſink thee deeper into Hell! Is not thy iniquity (already) great, and thy wickedneſs infinite? as Eliphaz ſaid to Job, Job 22.5. Great for the nature of thy ſins, and infinite for their number; and wilt thou like one that is preſſing to death, cry and call for more weight.

Maintain thy power and authority in thy Family: A wiſe, grave carriage will ſharpen the weapon of reproof, and make it pierce the deeper. Fooliſh familiarity blunteth the edge of it. He that would throw a ſtone forcibly to do execution, muſt ſtand at ſome diſtance.

Encourage ſmall beginnings of good in any in thy family: Shine with a lightſome countenance, caſt a warm influence upon the bloſſoms of holineſs, hereby thou mayeſt do much towards their ripening. Davids eye of favour was upon the faithful, Pſal. 101.6. A Governor of a family muſt like a Gardener, pluck up weeds, but cheriſh and tender the good flowers and plants.

Sixthly, Take care that all in thy Family be well employed: Not to permit idleneſs in thy houſe, is one way to prevent ungodlineſs. There is p. 550employment ſuitable to every perſon in thy dwelling: Servants ſhould be diligent in the diſcharge of their duties: Jobs Servants were about their work, when the Sabeans and Chaldeans fell upon them, and ſent them into the other World, Job 1.14, 17. Jacob ſerved his Maſter Laban with all his might, Gen. 31. and 5. Apelles painted a Servant with Hindes feet (to ſhew that he ſhould be nimble in diſpatching any errand) with broad ſhoulders (ſignifying, that he ſhould contentedly bear hard uſage) and with his hands full of tools, becauſe he ſhould be always at work. Children alſo (if at home) muſt be employed in their places; if young, in Learning; if elder, in ſome Calling. Plutarch in vita.Solon the Athenian Law-giver enacted, That the Son ſhould not relieve his Father in his old age, who had brought him up idle, and without a trade. The Patriarchs, though principal men in their Generation, brought up all their Children to ſome Calling; their tender Daughters were not exempted from Houſhold buſineſs: Rebeccah (the Mother of Prophets and Princes) was not aſhamed of her Pitcher, and drawing water therewith for her Fathers Cattel.

Thoſe dainty Dames who plead her pattern for their ear-rings and bracelets, will hardly plead it for a pitcher and painfulneſs. Auguſtus Ceſar brought up his daughters in Carding and Spinning. Gentlemen though they are not bound to bring up their Children to low or mean callings, yet are bound to p. 551keep them out of the ſnare of idleneſs, and to take care that they be in ſome lawful buſineſs, ſerviceable to themſelves and others. The Wife as well as Servants and Children ought to be induſtrious in her ſtation. Spinſter is a term given to the greateſt woman in our Law. It is ſaid of the good houſewife, She ſeeketh Wool and Flax, and worketh willingly with her hands, ſhe looketh well to the ways of her houſhold, and eateth not the bread of idleneſs, Pro. 31.13, 27. A Womanswork conſiſteth in ſowing and doing ſomwhat her ſelf, and overſeeing others, as appeareth in the forequoted place, beſides the charge of her children; hereby a wiſe woman is ſaid to build her houſe, Pro. 14.1. As a Carpenter layeth the plat-form of an houſe in his head, and ſo ſtudieth that none of his ſtuff be cut to waſte; So a good Houſewife doth ſo overlook the affairs of her family, and ſo contrive and order things by a prudent provident forecaſt, that there may be no waſte, but all things diſpoſed for the beſt. Hence it is that though the Husband is called the guide of the Wife, yet the Wife is called the guide of the Houſe, Pro. 2.17. 1 Tim. 5.14. And for this end they are commanded to be keepers at home, Tit. 2.5. They that gad much abroad, do their families at home but little good; ſuch are according to the ſignification of the ſecond Wife of Lamech, Zillah's, the ſhadows of Wives; The Grecians had a cuſtom when the new married Bride was brought home to her Husbands houſe, to burn the Axeltree of the Chariot or Cart in which ſhe was brought, before the door; to teach her that ſhe p. 552muſt abide at home. But the main work lyeth upon the governour of the Family; Be thou diligent to know the ſtate of thy flock, and look well to thy herds, Pro. 27.23. He that is far from his work, is not far from want. The Jews have a Proverb The Maſters foot makes his ground fat; which ſpeaks thus much, that if the Maſter be not forward with his own hands, all things will go backward in his houſe. Io Manlii Loc. Com.foreign, The Maſter is the greateſt ſervant in the houſe. Its ſaid of Albanus Biſhop of Scotland, Stotſwood Hiſtory of the Church of Scotland.that he was never idle, nor ever ſuffered any in his family to be ſo.

Reader, this particular of overſeeing, that all under thy roof mind their proper work, will be ſome help to godlineſs, and a great ſtop to wickedneſs. Polym. Stratag. Lib. 3.Iphicrates would never let his ſouldiers be idle in their Garriſons, but would ſet them to lop trees, or dig, or carry burdens: ſaying, That if they had nothing to do, they would mutinie or commit ſome villany. The bird that ſitteth ſtill, is a fit mark for the murderer of ſouls, when the flying Bird is ſafe. As corrupt blood is the cauſe of all natural, ſo is idleneſs of all ſpiritual diſeaſes. When perſons in a family neglect their task, then is their hour of temptation; Idleneſs is often the cauſe of Drunkenneſs. They leave their workhouſe who run to the Ale-Houſe, Amos 6.2. Uncleanneſs is the Daughter of Idleneſs; Luſt will eaſily creep in upon thoſe that are lazy, as did appear ſadly in …odom, Ezek. 16.49. Otia ſi tollas, periere Cupidinis arcus; hence fellow-ſervants p. 553commit uncleanneſs together. Idleneſs is the mother of unrighteouſneſs. They who neglect their tasks turn thieves; they muſt not ſtarve (they ſay) and will not work, therefore they muſt ſteal, 2 Theſ. 3.12. When Servants are idle, many times they rob their Maſters; Talebearing alſo is one of the fruits that groweth upon this tree. When Servants are idle, they run tatling from houſe to houſe making difference amongſt Neighbours, 1 Tim. 5.13. Pro. 11.23. Carping Momus was never found working. Truly Friend, thou canſt not think the wrong thou doſt thy family, if thou ſuffer them like Milſtones to conſume themſelves thus for want of work. Mr. Graenham in his works.St. Greenham (as Biſhop Hall calleth him) when a Woman tempted much by the Devil came to him for advice, gave her this direction; Never be idle, but be always well imployed; for in my own experience I have found it, when the Devil came to tempt me, I told him that I was not at leaſure to hearken to his temptations, but was buſie in my calling, and thereby reſiſted his aſſaults.

Seventhly, Maintain peace and love in thy family. Contentions will hinder Religion; Strife like fire is wholly oppoſite to the water of grace. As in times of warring the laws of men are ſilent in a ſtate, (inter arma ſilent leges) ſo in jarring families the Laws of God can be little heard. God was not in the tempeſtuous rough wind, nor in the fire, but in the ſtill low voyce, 1 Kings 19.12. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace ſhall be with you, 2 Cor. 13.11. If thy houſe be in a flame, it is time for thy beſt friends to be gone. Thy p. 554Houſe ſhould be a leſſer Heaven; in it thy God muſt be worſhipped and glorified, but in heaven there are no ſtorms; tempeſts aſcend no higher then the middle Region. Where God is ſerved with perfect purity, there is perfect peace. As in the Ringing of Bells where every one keepeth its place, and time, and order, they make an harmonious ſound, and delight the Daughters of Muſick; but when they jar and ſtrike againſt each other, their noiſe is harſh and diſtaſtful. The holy performances of Families that live in love, are Heavens muſick; but brawlings in houſes (make prayers ungrateful, and) have too much reſemblance of the yellowings in Hell. When the wind of contention is high, the ſmoak of thy incenſe cannot aſcend, it will be beaten down again. In ſtormy weather, one but a little way diſtant ſometimes cannot hear his Neighbour calling; ſtorms of paſſions will hinder Gods hearing thy petitions.

Its ſaid that in Cimmeria there is no light; and truely its more ſad that in ſome Families there is no love. The Husband is againſt the Wife, and the Wife againſt the Husband; Maſter and Servants, Parents and Children are ever quarreling. Seven Devils could agree in one heart, nay a Legion (which is ſeven thouſand ſix hundred twenty two, if Varro may be believed) in another; and yet ſeven perſons cannot agree in one houſe. The language in it is uſually like Billings gate, and the carriage often like Bedlam; But the hand of the Devil is in all this, who knoweth his beſt time to fiſh, is when the waters are troubled. When p. 555there is a tempeſt raiſed in the ſpirits of men, we may quickly know that Satan was the Conjurer to raiſe the high winds. He knoweth one way to take an houſe is by firing it.

Truely Satan hath a mighty advantage againſt an Idle and a brawling family; As the Dog, he devoureth the ſheep in peices, which he could not do whole. When Cyrus came near Babylon with his great Army, and finding the River by reaſon of its depth unpaſſable, he divided it into many Channels, whereby the main River ſank ſo on a ſuddain, that his Army went over and took the City. Thus by diviſion doth Satan conquer and ſurpriſe families.

There is mention made of a diſpute betwixt Mars and Pallas, Ioh. Bodin. Method. Hiſt. c. 6.which of them ſhould have the honour to give the name to the City of Athens; at length is was reſolved, that he ſhould give the name, who could find out that which could moſt conduce to the benefit of the City. Hereupon Mars preſented them with a ſtately Horſe, ſignifying Wars and diviſions; but Pallas came in with an Olive Branch the emblem of peace. Upon which the City choſe Pallas to be their Guardian, as knowing that unity is the way to proſperity.

Godlineſs in a family ebbeth and floweth much, Plin. Nat. Hiſt. lib. 2.according to the wranglings or love in a family. As the Lapis Tyrrhenus, Pliny ſpeaketh of, which being entire ſwimmeth; but broken, every part of it ſinketh to the bottom. Truely thy family may float above water while it is whole and undivided, but if it be in peices it will quickly ſink.

p. 556But I muſt eſpecially commend this duty to the governours of families, Husbands and Wives. Children are ſeldom ſo impudent, and ſervants may either be made quiet within, or be turned out of doors; but if the chief ſtrings jar all the melody is marr'd. Obſerve how the Holy Ghoſt giveth this particular precept, in order to the promotion of piety in a family; The Wife muſt be of a meek and quiet ſpirit, and the Husband muſt give honour to the Wife as unto the weaker Veſſel, as heirs together of the grace of life, that prayers be not hindered, 1 Pet. 3.4, 7. We may conſider the injunction, and the reaſon of it; the injunction is firſt to Wives, They muſt be of meek and quiet ſpirits; quiet not quarrelſom, meek not murmuring through peeviſhneſs, or mad with paſſion. A contentious wife is a continual dropping, ſaith Solomon, Pro. 19.13. The man would ſtay at home, but her tongue like rain dropping through the roof upon his head whereever he ſitteth down, drives him out of his houſe. Where is godlineſs in the mean time? The wiſe man ſaith again, Its better to dwell in the Wilderneſs, (amongſt venemous creatures) then with ſuch a Wife, Pro. 21.13. when ſhe ſhould be praying, ſhe is like a mad Dog barking or biting. Such a Wife, ſaith Lycophron, is but a cold armful. This made Sylla ſay, I had been bleſſed if I had continued a Batchelor. Upon this ground I ſuppoſe Julian the Apoſtate (whoſe mouth was often black with blaſphemies) ſaid that Moſes inſtead of meet-help, might have written meet-hinderer. But certainly whatſoever ſome mens perverſneſs may drivel p. 557and utter, or ſome womens peeviſhneſs occaſion, a woman, if of a godly and quiet ſpirit, is the greateſt comfort on earth, and a great help ſhe may be to her Husband in his journey to Heaven. The Injunction is ſecondly to the Husband; he muſt honor his Wife as the weaker veſſel, as his fellow-heir of the grace of life: He muſt honor her, not be bitter to her: He muſt give her his greateſt love, not deny her a good look. Some Husbands are ſo Currriſh and Crabbed, they are always raging and fretting at their Wives, nay, like thoſe that are diſtracted, they ſometimes beat and tear their Wives, themſelves; For they two are one fleſh: How far are ſuch from obedience to Gods Law? Let the Husband honor the Wife as the weaker veſſel, that is, uſe her tenderly: China diſhes, and Venice glaſſes muſt be tenderly handled, becauſe they are weak veſſels. The Husband muſt with the mantle of love, cover many infirmities: An Heathen could tell Sarah, That Abraham was a covering of the eyes to her, Gen. 20.16. The eye is the tendereſt part of the body; God hath provided a ſpecial cover to fence it. When God would ſpeak his infinite reſpect to, and care of his people, he ſaith, They are as dear to him as the apple of his eye. Truly, Husbands ought to be as tender of their Wives, as of the apple of their eyes. But Reader, ſee the reaſon of this Injunction of love to Husbands and Wives, That your prayers be not hindred; as if he had ſaid, Winde up thoſe weights of meekneſs and love, or Religion will ſtand ſtill: Take away thoſe needful p. 558props, and piety will fall to the ground. O friend, as thou haſt any love to the honor of God, honor thy Wife as the weaker veſſel, if God hath caled thee to that relation: If thou art a Wife, be of a meek and quiet ſpirit. If there be not concord in affections, there will be ſad diſcord in petitions. When there is War in a Kingdom, how are Sabbaths prophaned, Ordinances deſpiſed, Prayer and Scripture neglected? men are hurried away in haſte to this and that place, and leave duties behinde them: So in a family, which is a Kingdom in a little volume, Diviſions will put Religion behinde, and force it to ſtand back. Rubenius Celer would needs have it engraven on his Tomb, that he had lived with his Wife Ennea forty three years, and eight moneths, and yet they never fell out.

It is happy where the Husband and Wife are like the two branches in the Prophet Ezekiels hand, ſo cloſed together in one bark, that both made but one piece: or like Pilades and Oreſtes, of whom it is ſaid, They both lived but one life; and where the whole family, like the multitude of Believers, is of one accord, of one heart, and of one ſoul in the Lord, Acts 4.32. with the encreaſe of God.

I have now diſpatched what I intended to offer thee, for the advancement of Godlineſs in thy Family: If thou art a ſtranger to this honorable, comfortable work of worſhipping God in, and with thy Family; O that I could prevail with thee to put the counſel of God ſpeedily into practice! I muſt aſſure thee from the Living and Almighty God, That thou art accountable to the Judge of p. 559quick and dead, for all the ſouls in thy Family; God hath the chief propriety in every perſon in thy dwelling. As the flock which Jacob looked after was Labans; ſo the family which thou haſt the overſight of, is Gods: Thy ſons and thy daughters which thou haſt born to me, Ezek. 16.20. God may ſay to thee more truly then Laban did to Jacob, Theſe ſons are my ſons, Gen. 39.43.Gen 39:43and theſe daughters are my daughters, and theſe ſervants are my ſervants, and all that thou ſeeſt is mine. Indeed God doth in effect ſay to thee, what Pharaohs Daughter did to Moſes Mother, Take this childe, and nurſe it for me, and I will give thee thy wages, Exod. 2.9. Take this Son, this Daughter, and nurſe them for me, in my nurture and admonition: Take this man-ſervant, this maid-ſervant, and bring them up for me, in my fear and ſervice; and I will give thee an eternal reward. Friend, thou wouldſt be faithful in bringing up Children or Servants for thy Brother or Soveraign; and wilt thou be unfaithful in bringing up Sons and Servants to thy God and Saviour? Is it fit that Gods ſervants ſhould do the Devils work? Let Conſcience judge. Did God give thee them to be brought up in drinking, or ſwearing, or lying, or Atheiſm; or like ſo many Heathen, or Beaſts, without any knowledge of his Word and Will? Did he honor and intruſt thee with their education, to have thee poyſon their ſouls by thy irreligious pattern, and ſtarve their ſouls by not giving them ſpiritual food? Is this thy love to thy Maker and Redeemer?

Beſides, I muſt tell thee, As Jacob was anſwerable p. 560to Laban for the whole flock; if any were torn by beaſts, or ſtollen by day or night, he bore the loſs of all, Gen. 31.39. Of his hands it was required: So art thou anſwerable to God for every one in thy Family; if any one be devoured and torn in pieces by the roaring Lyon the Devil, through thy negligence, God will require his ſoul at thy hands.

O Reader, conſider, Death will ſhortly break up thine houſe, when thy children and ſervants muſt go to everlaſting fire, if they dye without grace, and the knowledge and fear of God. If thou art now careleſs about the eternal good of thy children and ſervants, that they periſh for ever, through thy falſeneſs and unfaithfulneſs, how dreadful will thy account be? What wilt thou do, when the blood of their ſouls ſhall be required of thee? If Chriſt ſentence men to Hell, for not viſiting ſick and impriſoned bodies, for not feeding hungry bodies; what ſentence will he paſs on thee, for not viſiting thoſe ſouls committed to thy charge, which were impriſoned by the Devil, and ſick unto death; and for not giving them the bread of life, but ſuffering them to ſtarve and dye?

If on him that brought a temporal death on Cain, vengeance ſhould be taken ſevenfold; what vengeance ſhall be taken on thee who tumbleſt others into eternal death? Believe it, Reader, theſe are no jeſting things: If therefore thou haſt any bowels towards the children of thine own body; if thou haſt any compaſſion towards thy poor ſervants, whom Chriſt thought worth his p. 561own blood; if thou haſt any love to thy deareſt Saviour, or thine own everlaſting ſalvation; if thou would leave this withering World with comfort, and look into the other World with courage, exerciſe thy ſelf to godlineſs in thy family, obey the particulars for that end commanded thee by the infinite God; do thine utmoſt that all of thy family, may be of the family of Faith; and all of thine houſhold, may belong to the houſhold of God; that ſo when the King of Terrors ſhall give a diſcharge from all relations, thou mayeſt with thy family be tranſlated from living together in one Houſe, to dwell for ever in one Heaven.

Reader, Thou mayeſt perceive in the cloſe of the tenth Chapter, that much more is promiſed then I have in this Treatiſe performed; the payment of which, though I do at preſent defer, yet through the ſtrength of Chriſt, I ſhall not deny. If thou haſt any intereſt at the Throne of Grace, I do earneſtly deſire thy prayers, that this part may finde acceptance with the Saints, and be inſtrumental for the advantage of many ſouls; and that in the other part I may receive much aſſiſtance from the bleſſed Saviour; thereby I ſhall be the more enabled to be ſerviceable to thine and others ſalvations.

p. 562A good Wiſh about the Government of a Family, wherein the former heads are epitomized.

THe Government of my Family being a ſpecial talent and truſt committed to me by the bleſſed God; The introduction.and being a buſineſs of exceeding concernment, both in regard of its influence upon the whole Kingdom, which is raiſed or ruined by the good or wicked management of Families; and in reference to the everlaſting eſtates of the precious Souls in it, wherewith I am charged; I wiſh in general, That I may never like a rotten poſt, endanger the whole building of Church and State in any degree, by my unfaithfulneſs in my place; nor be ſo unmerciful and unnatural, as to ſee that bloody Butcher Satan, drive my children and ſervants (like ſilly ſheep) to the Shambles of Hell, and never ſtir or ſtrive to reſcue them out of his hands: But th…t my reſolution and practice may be according to Joſhua's religions pattern, that whatſoever gods others ſerve, whether the World or the fleſh, yet I and my houſe may ſerve the Lord. O that I might ſo walk in the midſt of my houſe with a perfect heart, that Grace, like Maries box of Oyntment, may perfume the whole houſe with its ſavour; and that in every corner of it (as it was ſaid of holy Hoopers) there may be ſome ſent of godlineſs.

In particular I wiſh, That I may keep my houſe ſo cleanly ſwept from the filth of ſin, Motives to exalt godlineſs in a family.and ſo curiouſly furniſhed with the ornaments of the Spirit, that it may invite the nobleſt Gueſt, the ever glorious God, p. 563to take up his abode in it. My God hath told me, Gods bleſſing will be on a god y family.That the Houſe of the Righteous ſhall ſtand, Pro. 12.7. (though ſin rotteth the timber, and maketh the houſes of the wicked to fall) that in the houſe of the Righteous is much treaſure, Prov. 15.6. (even when there is but little ſilver) th…t he bleſſeth the habitation of the Righteous, Prov. 3.33. Surely his bleſſing can make my bed eaſie, my ſleep ſweet, my food ſavoury, my cloaths warm, my dwelling pleaſant, my children hopeful, my wife a meet help, my ground full of plenty, and all I ſet my hands to, to proſper. O my ſoul, what an argument is this, to move thee to exalt holineſs in thy houſe! Thy God will bleſs it, nay that God whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain, will come and dwell in it. Without queſtion, his coming will (as to Zacheus) bring ſalvation to thy houſe; the company of this King, will turn thy Cottage into a Court; and his preſence will change thy dwelling, were it a Priſon, into a Palace. O! let nothing be in thy houſe, which may be diſtaſteful to ſo great, and ſo good a Friend: Let no ſin dwell in thy Tabernacle; but let Holineſs to the Lord be written on every perſon, room and veſſel in it; that whatſoever name other houſes are known by, the name of thy houſe may be from henceforth, and for ever, Jehovah Shammah, The Lord is there.

I wiſh, Gods curſe, will be on a wicked family.That I may ſo give credit to the Word of Truth, which ſaith, That the Curſe of the Lord is in the houſe of the wicked; that the flying Roll of Curſes (the length whereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth ten cubits) ſhall enter into the houſe of the Thief, and into the houſe of him that p. 564ſweareth falſly, (and ſhall conſume it with the timber thereof, and the ſtones thereof, Zach. 5.2, 3, 4. and that he will pour out his wrath upon the Heathen which know him not, and upon the families that call not on his name: That I may tremble for fear that Atheiſm ſhould raign in my houſe, and ſo it ſhould be ranked amongſt the irreligious, and markt for vengeance. Ala…, what a direadful noiſe do thoſe Murthering pieces make in mine ears! The Curſe of God will canker all my comforts, and blaſt all my bleſſings, and that both ſpeedily and irreſiſtibly. But O, my ſoul, meditate a little upon the latter Text, which is a Prediction, as well as a Petition. What a bitter potion doth thy God give thee, to purge Atheiſm out of thy family! Conſider its nature, it is Wrath: Pour out thy Wrath. Gods Anger is terrible, like fire, burning and overturning all before it; if but a ſpark of it light upon his own people, Pſal. 99.…. a…d 85.4.Ps 99how pitifully do they roar out! We are conſumed by thine anger: Cauſe thine anger towards us to ceaſe. O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger: There is no ſoundneſs in my fleſh becauſe of thine anger. Truly, no wonder that they thus bewail it; for who knoweth the power of his anger? Eut his Wrath is anger in the greateſt degree, Anger boiled up to the height: O how ſcalding is this boiling Lead! If the wrath of a King be the Meſſenger of death; What is the wrath of an Almighty God? This wrath can ſtuff thy bed with thorns, and appoint weariſome nights unto thee; it can ſauce thy diſhes with poyſon, infect thy raiment with plague ſores, fill thy body with torturing diſtempers, p. 565thy ſoul with horrors and terrors; it can waſte all thy wealth in a moment, and turn thy Wife, Children, and all thy comforts into amazing croſſes and terrifying curſes. Hell it ſelf is nothing elſe but this wrath to come; one Spoonful, one Drop of it will turn an Ocean of the ſweeteſt Wine into Gall and Wormwood. Wouldſt thou be an Atheiſt in thy family for all the World, to live one hour under this ſcorching wrath! Alas it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of thy God, for thy God is a conſuming fire. Obſerve further its meaſure, pour out thy wrath; When thy God poureth out his Spirit, he giveth it in an extraordinary degree. The perſons upon whom it was poured, are ſaid to be full of the Holy Ghoſt. If thy family be irreligious, thou mayſt expect this ſcalding wrath, not by drops, but by ſhorews to come pouring down upon it. O my ſoul, let this thought ſoak and ſink ſo deep into thee, that thou mayſt dread the omiſſion of duties in thy family as much as the unquenchable fire. Let his favour make thee chearful in his ſervice, and let his anger make thee fearful of the leaſt ſin in thy houſe.

To this end I wiſh that I may uſe much circumſpection whom I admit into my dwelling; Directions for the exalting godlineſs in a Fam…ly.that as thoſe who are to plant an Orch-yard, get the beſt grafts they can; ſo that mine houſe may be an Eden, the garden of the Lord, a Paradiſe on earth; 11Take heed whom thou makeſt members of thy Family.I may (as my occaſions require) look out for the choyceſt flowers, the beſt and fruitfuleſt trees, the holieſt Chriſtians in the Country. O let me never make my houſe a Peſt-houſe, by taking in irreligious and infectious perſons and ſuch as will bring the plague along with them. One ſcabbed p. 566ſheep may wrong the whole flock, one putrid grape corrupt a cluſter; a little Leaven Leaveneth the whole lump; Lord in the choyce of inhabitants for my houſe, let my eye be not onelyonly upon my own welfare, and their fitneſs for my work, but chiefly on thy glory and their willingneſs to work the work of him that ſent them into the World. Ioh. 9.4. Pſa. 26.4, 5. and 119.John 9:4Ps 26:4Ps 26:5Ps 26:119Let me hate the congregation of evil doers. Let me not ſitwith vain perſons. Let mine eyes be upon the faithful in the Land. Let them that fear thee turn unto me, and ſuch as keep thy righteous judgements. Let me dwell with them here on earth, with whom I ſhall dwell hereafter in the houſe not made with hands, but eternal in the Heavens.

I wiſh that that there may be a Church in my houſe; and all the perſons in it, 22Mind holy performances in thy Family.both Morning and Evening at leaſt, imploved in thoſe holy performances which my God requireth. My houſe ſhould be a reſemblance of Heaven Above; in his greateſt and moſt glorious houſe, my God is ſerved without ceaſing, and without ſinning. O that though in his lower and leſſer houſe, natural and civil actions cauſe intermiſſion of, and the body of death cauſeth imperfections in holy duties: yet he might be worſhipped both conſtantly and perfectly in a Goſpel and Evangelical ſence. I have read that amongſt the worſt of Turks, the Moors, it is a juſt exception againſt any Witneſs by their law, Prayer.that he hath not prayed four times in every natural day. … Hall Contemp.I wiſh that none in my Familie may be worſe then Turks; but that both all apart may ſecretly, and all together may privaetly offer up the Morning and Evening Sacrifice of prayer and praiſe to the Lord my God. Daniel would pray three times a day p. 567though he were caſt to the Lions for it; and ſhall my Family neglect prayer, when the Omiſſion of it will make them a prey to roaring Lions. It is the honour and happineſs of my houſe, to exalt the Worſhip of my God in it; his Service is the greateſt freedom, his work is a reward to it ſelf; why ſhould we be our own enemies, in baniſhing our beſt friends out of our family? The mercies of my God are renewed upon me and mine every Morning; his care and love is continued to us all the day long, the dews and ſhowrs of his compaſſion fall down upon us every Evening; ſhall we be forgetful of him who is every moment ſo mindful of us! O let my Family never be ſo void of grace and manners, as not to bid our God Good-Morrow and Good-Night upon any pretence whatſoever.

I wiſh that the word of Chriſt may dwell richly in my heart and houſe, Scripture inſtruction and Catechiſing.that my whole familie may have their ſet meales every day of this Spiritual food. How can I expect that Children or Servants who know not the God of their Fathers, ſhould ſerve him with perfect hearts? Alas how often are their ignorant hearts (like dark Cellers abounding in vermine) full of ſin! 1 Cron. 28.9.O that I might ſo talk of the Word of God in my houſe, Deut. 6.7, 8.Deut 6:7Deut 6:8when I lye down and when I riſe up, that it may be written upon the Poſts of my Houſe, and on my Gates, that I may ſo often water the young plants in it, that their firſt acquaintance may be acquaintance with God, and from their childhood they may know the holy Scriptures, and be wiſe to Salvation, through faith which in Chriſt Jeſus. Though others care be to inſtruct p. 568their Servants onelyonly in their own work, let my care be to inſtruct mine in Gods Will and Word: Though others labour to leave their children rich, let my endeavour be to leave mine religious. Lord, enable me ſo to teach them thy Trade in their youth, that they may not depart from it when they are old, Prov. 22.6. that their young years well led, may be like the Sweetneſs of a Roſe, whoſe ſwell remaineth in the dried leaves.

I wiſh, That all the voyces in my houſe may tuneably ſing Gods praiſes; Singing Pſalms.yet that they may not, like Trumpets and Pipes, make a ſound, being filled onelyonly with winde; but have hearts fixed and prepared, when they ſing and give praiſe. O that all the Viols in my houſe may be ſo in tune, and their ſtrokes ſo true, that ſinging with grace in our hearts, we may make melody to the Lord. Drunkards have their Songs in deriſion of them that are good; Atheiſts have their Sonnets in diſhonor of the bleſſed God: Why ſhould not the voyce of joy and rejoycing be in the Tabernacle of the righteous? Pſal. 118.15.Ps 118:15Though my houſe is a Tabernacle, and all the inhabitants in it Travellers, yet our work is pleaſant: O let us go merrily on, and make Gods Statutes our Songs in this houſe of our pilgrimage.

Becauſe my pattern of evil will do more hurt to my family, 33Set them a good example.then my precepts can do good (ſervants and children being apt to be led more by the eye then the ear) I wiſh, That I may take heed to my ſelf, weigh and watch over all my words and works, not onelyonly for my own, but alſo for the ſake of them that are committed to my charge. Diſtillations from the head, p. 569often conſume and deſtroy the vitals: My family is like a flock of ſheep; if the firſt leap through into a ditch, or river, the reſt are ready to follow. O that I might therefore be wary in all my ways, and be ſo ſerious in Spiritual, ſo ſober in Natural actions; ſo righteous towards men, ſo religious towards my God; ſo faithful in every relation, and ſo holy and heavenly in every condition, that I may have cauſe to ſay to my children and ſervants, as Gideon to his Souldiers, Look on me, and do likewiſe, Judg. 7.17.

I wiſh, 44See that thy family ſanctifie the Lords Day.That my houſe may not onelyonly ſpend ſome part of every Week day, but alſo the whole Sabbath day, in the ſervice of my God. It is a ſpecial priviledge granted me by the Lord, for my families profit, wherein I may be ſingularly helpful to my own, and my houſholds everlaſting happineſs. O that not the leaſt part of it may be loſt, or prophaned by any within my gate, either by worldly labour, paſtimes, or idleneſs; but that I may be ſo mindeful of my charge, as to take care that my children and ſervants do forbear what my God forbiddeth, and ſpend that Sacred Day, altogether in Sacred Duties: To which purpoſe I deſire, That all my houſhold, both males and females (if of capacity) may appear before the Lord in publique, and in his Temple give him praiſe; and that in private I may whet the Word on them (as the mower doth his ſithe) by going over it again and again, according to the precept. Lord, Deut. 6.6, 7.Deut 6:6Deut 6:7let my houſe on thy day, be like thy houſe, employed wholly in thy Worſhip; and let thy gracious preſence ſo aſſiſt us in every Ordinance, that the glory of the Lord may fill the houſe.

p. 570I wiſh, 55Diſcipline in a Family.That I may manifeſt my love to the Souls in my family, by manifeſting my anger againſt their ſins. My God hath told me, Thou ſhalt not hate thy brother: Thou ſhalt in any wiſe rebuke thy neighbour, and not ſuffer ſin upon him, Lev. 19.17. If it be my duty not to bear with the corruptions of neighbours, much leſs of my ſervants and children. Should I ſuffer them in unholineſs, I ſhould bring them up for Hell: Thoſe deepeſt purple ſins, many times, are thoſe which are died the Wool of youth. O the ſad aches which many have when they are old, by falls which they received when they were young! Let me never, like Eli, honor my ſons (or ſervants) above my God, leſt my God judge my houſe for ever, for the iniquities which I know, becauſe my children, (or ſervants) make themſelves vile, and I reſtrain them not. Lord, let me never be ſo fand and fooliſh; as to kill any in my family with (Soul-damning) kindneſs; but let my houſe be as thine Ark, wherein there may be not onelyonly the golden pot of Manna, ſeaſonable and profitable inſtructions; but alſo Aarons Red, ſuitable and proper reprehenſion and correction.

I wiſh, 66See that all be well employed.That I may never expoſe my family to the ſuggeſtions of Satan, by allowing any in lazineſs; but may be buſie my ſelf in my particular vocaſion; and ſee that others be diligent in their diſtinct ſtations. The lazy Drone is quickly caught in the honeyed glaſs, and kild, when the buſie Bee avoideth that ſnare and danger. O that I and mine might always be ſo employed in the work of our God, that we may have no leiſure to hearken to the wicked one. Adams ſtorehouſe p. 571was his work-houſe; Paradiſe was his place of labour. Lord, ſince thou haſt intruſted every one in my houſe with one talent or other wherewith he muſt trade, cauſe me and mine to labour and work in this, and to look after reſt in the other World.

I wiſh, 77Peace and love muſt be maintained in the family.for the furthering of holineſs and purity in my houſe, That I may be careful to keep it in peace. Our bodies will thrive as much in Feavers, as our Souls in the flames of ſtrife: Satan by the Granado's of Contention, will hope in time to take the Garriſon: Where ſtrife is, there is confuſion, and every evil work, Jam. 3.16. O that love (which is the new Commandment, the old Commandment, and indeed all the Commandments) might be the livery of all in my family: That there might be no contention there, but who ſhould be moſt holy, and go before each other in the path which leadeth to eternal pleaſures. Becauſe marriage is a fellewſhip of the neareſt union, and deareſt communion in this World; and becauſe the fruits of Religion will thrive much the better, if cheriſhed by the ſweet breath, and warm gale of love in this relation: Lord, let my wife be to me as the loving Hinde, and pleaſant Roe; let me be raviſhed always with her love: Let there be no provocation but to love, and to good works: Let our onelyonly ſtrife be, who ſhall be moſt ſerviceable to thy Majeſty, in furthering one anothers eternal felicity: Enable us to bear one anothers burthens, and ſo fulfil the Law of Chriſt; and to dwell together as fellow-heirs of the Grace of life, that our prayers be not hindred.

In a word, I wiſh, That I may like Cornelius, p. 572Concluſion.fear the Lord with all my houſe: So govern it according to Gods Law, that all in it may be under the influence of his love, and heirs of everlaſting life. Lord, be thou pleaſed ſo to aſſiſt and proſper me in the management of this great and weighty truſt, that my houſe may be thy houſe; my ſervants, thy ſervants; my children, thy children; and my wife, belong to the Spouſe of thy dear Son; that ſo when death ſhall give a bill of divorce, and break up our family, we may change our place, but not our company; be all preferred from thy lower houſe of prayer, to thine upper houſe of praiſe; where is neither marrying, nor giving in marriage, but all are as Angels, ever pleaſing, worſhipping, and enjoying thy bleſſed ſelf (of whom the the whole family in heaven and earth is named) to whom be glory, hearty and univerſal obedience, for ever and ever. Amen.

FINIS.