A Staff of Comfort to Stay the Weak, Part 11
Of particular callings and courses of life, and first concerning Parents.Parents.
Ob. I Am a careful father, and yet am I vexed with a lewd and rebellious child,, which doth not a little afflict me.Godly parents may hauehave vngodly children.
Answ. Faithfull Abraham (the friend of God) had a mocking Ismaell; good Isaac, a prophane Esau; and zealous Dauid, his most wicked and vnnaturall sonne Absolom.
Obiect. I hauehave instructed him, but he is not the better, I will therefore leaue him to himselfe.
Answ. A childe left to himselfe,Correction good for children. bringeth his Parents to shame, Pro. 29.15. But correct thy sonne, and hee shall giuegive thee rest, yea hee shall giuegive delight vntounto thy soule, Verse, 17.
Obiect. I am not in want my selfe, nor euer was destitute of competent meanes to liue (I thanke God), yet am I very much troubled about my childrens welfare, how they should doe after me, because I hauehave little or nothing to leaue them.
Answ. The Lord is a strong confidence to him that feareth him,The childrē of the righteous are blessed. Psal. 103.17. & 115.14. Prou. 13.22. and his children shall hauehave a place of refuge, Prou. 14.26. The iust man walketh in his integrity, and his children are blessed after him, Prou. 20.7. For the generation of the vpright shall bee blessed, Psal. 112.2. Of which Dauid speaketh from his experience, saying, I hauehave beene young, and now am old, yet hauehave I not seene the righteous forsaken, nor his seede begging bread, Psal. 37.25.
Obiect. I am desirous to hauehave my children well brought vp, and could be content to be at cost (to the vtmost of my power) for the same, but that I can not see how possibly they may come to preferment; for not mens deserts, but (for the most part) fauour, friends, money, outward grace, and countenance of the world, fraude and flattery get men their places and preferments.
Answ. Behold,Preferment is onelyonly of God, and the earth disposed at his pleasure. Ier. 27.5. God exalteth by his power, Iob, 36.22. Preferment (whatsoeuer man thinketh, or whatsoeuer meanes hee vseth to obtaine it) commeth neither from the East, nor from the West, nor from the South: but God is the iudge, hee putteth downe one, and setteth vp another, Psalm. 75.6.7. Both riches and honor come from him. He raigneth ouer all. In his hand is power and might. In his hand it is to make great,Psal. 107.41. and to giuegive strength vntounto all, 1. Chron. 29.12. He raiseth the poore out of the dust, and lifteth the needy and beggar out of the mire from the dung-hil, that hee may set him with Princes, euen with the Princes of his people, Psal. 113.7. And to make him inherit the throne of glory, 1. Sam. 2.8.
Children.
Ob. I Am a child, (I speake it with harts griefe,) of ill disposed Parents, I feare that God will visit vponupon mee their sinnes and iniquities.
Answ. A good child shall not fare the worse, for his fathers wickednes.Behold (saith the Lord) all soules are mine, as the soule of the father, so the soule of the sonne is mine. The soule that sinneth, it shall die, the father in his owne iniquity, Ezech. 18.4.18. But loe, if hee beget a sonne that seeth all his fathers sinnes, which he hath done and considereth, and doth not such like, he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, hee shall surely liue, Verses, 18.14.17.
Obiect. Wee bee fatherlesse children, wee hauehave none to flye vntounto for succour, to hauehave remedy for the wrongs we doe sustaine.
God is the guardian to fatherlesse children.Answ. The Lord is the helper, and a father of the fatherlesse, Psalm. 10.14. & 68.5. Hee is their mightie redeemer, hee will plead their cause with the oppressor, Prou. 23.11. Hee will iudge the fatherlesse and oppressed, that the man of earth may no more oppresse, Psal. 10.18.
Obiect. I hauehave very vnkind and vnnaturall brethren, without cause on my part.
Answ Not more vnkind and vnnaturally cruel, than Cain was to innocent Abell, or Esau to Iacob, and Iacobs ten sonnes to their brother Ioseph, whom they did intend mercilesly to murther, euen of meere enuie, for the graces of God in him.
Married persons.
Ob. I Am vnequally yoked.
Answ. God so disposeth by his prouident hand in his wisedome, that a religious Dauid, shall match with a mocking Michol; and a wise Abigail with a foolish and churlish Nabal.
Obiect. We are of so crosse natures, as we shall neuer be brought to accord.
Answ. Pray vntounto the Lord, for hee maketh them of the house to bee of one minde. Psal. 68.6.
Obiect. Wee hauehave too many children.
Children are the blessing of God.Answ. Say not so, behold, children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the wombe is his reward, Psal. 127.31. Blessed is the man that hath filled his quiuer, his house full of them, Ver. 5. It is a blessing promised to him that feareth God, that his wife shall bee as a fruitfull vine by the sides of his house, and his children as Oliue branches round about his Table, Psal. 128.31.
Obiect. But I am growne old, and hauehave the charge, not onelyonly of mine owne children, but of my childrens children.
Answ. There is no cause of discontentment, but of glory and reioysing, for childrens children are the crowne of old men, Prou. 17.6.
Obiect. See how very vnthankefull some are for Gods blessing, in giuing them children! but I that desire them can not hauehave them, and remaine hopelesse.
Ans. God can make the barren to beare children.Hannah remained long childlesse, yet at the length God made her fruitfull, 1. Sam. 1.20. & 2.21. For the Lord setteth the solitarie in families, Psal. 68.6. And maketh the barren woman to keepe house, and to bee a ioyfull mother of children, Psal. 113.9, when it pleaseth him. If thou dost remaine childlesse, be content to bee without a certaine care, for an vncertaine comfort. For as a wise child maketh a glad father, and causeth the mother to reioyce, Prou. 15.20. & 23.24.25. So a foolish sonne is a griefe to his father, and bitternesse to her that bare him, Prou. 17.25.
Vnmarried.
A good wife is Gods gift.Ob. I HaueHave a mind to marry: but I feare to bee ill sped.
Answ. Goe vntounto God for his furtherance & blessing; for house and riches are inheritance from Parents, but a prudent wife commeth of the Lord, Pro. 19.14. By his fauour thou shalt finde her, Pro. 28.22. And hee will send his Angel with thee to guide thee in the way, Gen. 24.7.
Obiect. I hauehave beene married, but hauehave now lost a comfortable yoke-fellow, and a most obedient louing wife: the remembrance of her is such, as though I hardly can containe, yet am I very loth to marry againe.
Answ. Abraham had his beloued Sarah, for beautie hardly comparable, admirable in graces, matchlesse for her louelove to her husband, and held worthy to bee recorded by the Apostle, as a patterne to all wiues,1. Pet. 3.6. for her reuerence and obedience in word and deede vntounto her Lord and husband, yet at the Lords call shee went before him,Gen. 23.2. who mourned and wept greatly for her: but yet hee being very old,Chap. 25.1. afterwards married Keturah. But for the younger sort in yeeres, that can not containe, let them euer consider what the Apostle saith: It is better to marry then to burne, 1. Cor. 7.9.
Obiect. I am a poore widow that hauehave lost a good husband, a man fearing God, yet hath he left me in a great debt, and with a charge of children, and now the creditors come vponupon me to take all away, and to leaue me nothing, neuer poore woman was in such a case. Alas, I know not what to doe.
Answ. God prouideth for poore widowes, and fatherlesse children.Bee patient and waite on God: thou maiest read of a good mans wife, one that feared God, to hauehave beene left in the verie selfe same case, 2. King. 4.1. Yet did the Lord (as an husband to her), and a mercifull father to her children, miraculously prouide for them, both for their maintenance and paiment of the debt, Verse 3-7. For the Lord is a father of the fatherlesse, and a iudge of the widow, Psal. 68.5. He also relieueth the fatherlesse and widow, Psal. 146.9. And euer hath had speciall care of them, both for their reliefe, Deut. 24.19.21, the preseruation of their state, Prouerbs, 15.25, and preuenting of wrongs offered vntounto them, Exo. 22.22.24.
Masters and Seruants.
Ob. I Am a master of a family, but a world of griefe it is to see the deceit and falshood of seruants, I am almost vndone by them, I thinke neuer master was thus dealt with.
A good seruant serueth the Lord.Answ. Had not most honest, most true hearted Mephibosheth, a notable deceiuer to his seruant, that wicked villaine Zibah? 2. Sam. 16. Had not religious Philemon, his pilfering Onesimus? Doest thou not know that Iesus Christ himselfe had a traitour to his seruant, who for gaine sold his life into the hands of his bloudy enemies? Consider and learne patience.
Obiect. I am a poore seruant, I labour faithfully, but my reward is small.
Answ. A good seruant serueth the Lord.In so doing thou seruest the Lord Christ, of whom thou shalt receiue thy reward, Col. 3.24. For if with a good will thou doest seruice to thy master, as vntounto Christ, with feare and trembling in singlenes of heart, not with eye-seruice, as a man-pleaser, but as a seruant to Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, for the good thing thou doest, thou shalt bee recompensed of the Lord, Ephes. 6.5-8.
Obiect. My master is a very worldling, and dealeth not honestly with mee in my wages, according to couenant. If it were not for common shame, or that he knowes by law I may recouer my dew, he would send me away empty-handed: it can not but grieue a man to doe faithfull seruice to such a man.
The masters wickednes, should not make the seruant faithlesse. Gen. 30.26.33. & 31.6.37.38.39.40.Answ. Thou maist not yet cease to be faithfull, looking for a reward at God… hand, Iacob was a mos… faithfull and painefull seruant to Laban, yet did thi… his vncle and master wron… him, and changed his wages tenne times, Gen. 31. … 41. And except the God o… Abraham, and the feare o… his father Isaac, had been with him, surely his master Laban had sent him away emptie, Gen. 31.42.Gen. 31.9.12.42. But God saw the faithfulnes of Iacob, and all that Laban did vntounto him, and the affliction of his seruant, and the labour of his hands, and therefore did he graciously reward him, & God is one and the same to all faithfull seruants, Ephes. 6.8.
Obiect. I am constrained to be at command to such, as be enemies to true religion, idolaters, and persecutors, and can not get away, which maketh me to thinke my selfe left of God, and not to bee reckoned among such as feare him.
Ans. Ioseph a godly man, liued in Pharaohs Court, Gen. 41.40.A good man may serue a bad master sometime. Iacob was a seruant to idolatrous Laban, Gen. 31. Daniel was with Nebuchadnezzar and Darius, Dan. 2.48. & 6.3. Abedmelech was one in Zedechias Court, Ierem. 38.7. And Obediah, one fearing God was in Achabs house, 1. King. 18.3. Yet were they not left of God, but such as did serue and feare him. For though they were seruants to men: yet were they (being good) euen the Lords freemen, 1. Cor. 7.22.
Men in publike authoritie.
Ob. I Am a magistrate, but much discouraged in the execution of my magistracy, for matters are so packt vp of others, lewde persons so borne with all, and my selfe for iust proceeding so little regarded of my betters, so opposed by my equals, and so despised hereby of inferiours, as in deede, I must either giuegive ouer my place, or cease to be vpright.
Answ. We may not cease to doe well, though we be crossed in our callings.For all this take heed what thou doest: thou iudgest not for man, but for the Lord, who is with thee in the iudgement, 2. Chro. 19.6. Blessed are they that keepe iudgement, and he that doth righteousnesse at all times, Psal. 106.3. Let therefore the feare of the Lord bee with thee, take heed and do it, 2. Chr. 19.7.
Obiect. I am a iudge, and one sitting in the place of iustice: but indeed a very peruerter of iustice and truth: for I hauehave more often pretended law, than followed it; and if I had law, (then for my owne aduantage and profit, or to reuenge mee on my aduersaries, or to pleasure my friends, or for hope of a bribe, or to hauehave (in the like occasion) an other to doe as much for me, or my friend, or for feare somtime) I would make the best of that law; & where it would serue the turn, there would I stretch it vponupon the ten… making the sinewes thereof cracke againe; and where it might make for the aduerse party, that braunch I would falsly interpret, or make it to bee of no force. Thus vniustly hauehave I sit in iudgement. Woe is me: I can not hope of mercy.
Ans. Luk. 19.8.9. An vniust Iudge may finde mercy, if he repent and make restitution.Saluation is come to Zacheus house, if he beleeue in Christ, shew mercy freely and bountifully to the poore, and shall restore backe againe, what he hath gotten by forged cauillation. For the Lord looketh vponupon men in his mercy. And if any say I hauehave sinned, and peruerted that which was right, and it profited mee not, hee will deliuer that mans soule for going into the pit, and his life … the light, Iob, 33.2…
Pastors and Teachers.
Ob. I Am a Pastour ouer a flocke, but hauehave a rebellious people, who cause me to feare to discharge faithfully my dutie, they are so wickedly bent against me.
Ezech. 3.9.Answ. Be not afraide of their faces, for though they doe fight against thee, they shall not preuaile: for I am with thee, to deliuer thee (saith the Lord,) Ier. 1.18.19. And I will deliuer thee out of the hand of the wicked, Ier. 15.20.21.
Obiect. I hauehave preached painfully, yet I finde no fruit of my labours, my diligence is but lost vponupon them.
A painefull Pastour shall not lose the reward of his labour.Answ. The word (saith God) that goeth out of my mouth, shal not returne vntounto mee void, but it shall accōplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing, wherto I send it, Esa. 55.11. Howsoeuer it doth preuaile with them, yet art thou in thy ministery, a sweet sauour of Christ vntounto God, both in them that are saued, and in them that perish, 2. Corinth. 2.15. Thy iudgement is with the Lord, and thy worke with thy God, Esa. 44.4. And though the people bee not gathered, yet shalt thou bee glorious in the Lords eyes, and he shal be thy strength, Verse, 5.
Ob. But if they amend not, I feare to become guiltie of their bloud.
Ans. If thou dost warne the wicked, and hee turne not from his wickednesse, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquitie, but thou hast deliuered thy soule, Eze. 3.19. And art free from his bloud, Act. 20.26.
Ob. Truely, I am weary of my calling, and ready to giuegive ouer my ministery, I am so discouraged both at home and abroad, of the laietie I am reproached, and of the clergie (in authority) I am not assisted, but rather basely esteemed and neglected as a contemptible person. I hauehave suffered of all sorts such wrong, onelyonly for my faithfulnesse in my ministery, as I am not able to indure it.
Christ is to vsus his ministers, a patterne of patience.Answ. That thou maiest not be wearied and faint in minde, consider the Lord Iesus, who indured such contradiction of sinners against him, and for the ioy that was set before him, indured the crosse, despised the shame, and is now set at the right hand of the throne of God, Heb. 12.2.3. Saint Paul fought a good fight, kept the faith, and so finished his course, & therefore was a crowne of righteousnesse layed vp for him, 2. Tim. 4.7.8. For he that indureth tentation, when hee is tried, shall receiue the crowne of life, Iam. 1.12.
Obiect. I am complained off to the highest authority, as an vnsufferable man.
Ans. So was Amos the Prophet, by Amaziah to Ieroboam, Amos, 7.10.
Obiect. They hold me a mad fellow, an enemy to the State, & some preach against the truth which I teach, and yet must I be silent, if I complaine, I am not heard, I hauehave so many, and those great enemies against me.
Ieremies miseries.Answ. Ieremy that most sincere, zealous, and faithfull Prophet of God, was held a mad fellow, one that taught without authoritie, to be worthy stocking, and imprisonment, Cha. 29.26.27. The Priests and false teachers spoke against him, and brought him before authoritie, as an enemy to the Sate, Chap. 26.8.10.11. & 28.1—& 38.4. They deuised mischiefes against him, abusing him with their tongue, Chap. 18.18. They had him and his ministery in derision, mocking & reproaching him, Ch. 20.7.8. His familiars watched to catch aduantage against him, Chap. 20.10. His very life was sought, Cha. 18.20.23. Pashur smote him, and put him in the stockes, Cha. 20.2. His writings were burnt, Chap. 36.21.23. And hee cast into a most loathsome, filthie and stinking prison, Chap. 38. Verse, 6. Thus was Ieremy dealt with. What shall I speake of other Prophets? Michaiah, 1. Kings 22.27. Vriiah. Ier. 26.23. Eliah, and the rest also of the Apostles, Bishops, and Pastors, faithfull Martyrs of Iesus Christ after them? Thou hast not with these resisted vntounto bloud striuing against sin, Heb. 12.4.
Marchants.
Ob. WE dwell by the sea side, and the seas doe so often swell, and rage in a storme, as wee may feare they will at length ouerflow the earth.
The sea cannot passe the bounds.Answ. The Lord hath placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetuall decree, that it cannot passe it; and though the waues thereof tosse themselues, yet can not they preuaile, though they roare, yet can they not passe ouer it, Ierem. 5.22, to turne againe to couer the earth, Psal. 104.9. For the Lord hath set barres and doores, saying, hitherto shall you come, but no further, and heere shall the proud waues bee staied, Iob, 38.10.11.
Ob. I am a Marchant, and am often to trade vponupon this vnstable element, and doe feare casting away, for the waues are mightie, and rage horribly, when the stormy winde lifteth them vp, so as we in the shippes mount vp to heauen, and downe againe to the depth, reeling and staggering to and fro (like drunken men), and sometime are almost brought vntounto our wits end.
Answ. There is safety vponupon the seas.There is yet safety vponupon the seas, for the Lord ruleth the raging of the sea, when the waues thereof arise he stilleth them, Psalm. 89.9. Hee is mightier than they, Psal. 93.4. For when men doe cry vntounto him in their troubles, he deliuereth them out of their distresse: hee makes the storme to cease, and the waues to bee still, and bringeth them to their desired harbour, Psal. 107.28.30. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse, and his wonderful works to the children of men! Psal. 31.
Trades-men.
Ob. I Am a trades-man, & desire to liue honestly: but if I so doe, I see I shal not thriue.
Answ. The vpright shall hauehave good things in possession, Prou. 28.10.
Ob. But by my honest dealing, I get but little, when others possesse great riches.
Ans. Better is a little in the feare of God, then great riches without equitie and right, Prou. 16.8. And a little that a righteous man hath, is better thā the riches of many wicked. Ps. 37.16.
Ob. But thus shal I leaue little to my children, when others make theirs gentlemē.
Ans. The iust man that walketh in his integrity, his children are blessed after him, Prou. 20.7. As for the heritage hastily gotten, it shall not bee blessed in the end, Prouerbs, 20.21. For wealth gottē by vanity, shal be diminished, Pro. 13.11.
Ob. I could gaine, if I might but vse the common shifts, and speake vntruely now and then, which are vsuall eueryevery where betweene the buyer and the seller. Yea, those that are held the most honest market-men, and approued chap-men, are not free from some shifts, and vntrue speaking without which they can not liue, by buying and selling and gaine therby.
Goods ill gotten shall not prosper. Prou. 12.3. & 28.8. & 13. & 11.22. Iob, 27.17. & 21.5.6.7. Ier. 22.13.17Ans. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue, is a vanitie tossed too and fro, of them that seek death, Pr. 21.6. Also lying lippes, are abomination to the Lord: but they that deale truly are his delight, Prou. 12.22.
Husband-men.
Ob. MY calling is very litle esteemed off, and doth want wherewith to commend it.
Answ. It is not so,Husbandry a calling not to be despised. for this calling of the husband-man is of very great antiquitie. The first man of the first world was an husband-man, euen Adam, Gen. 3.who also brought vp his children therein, Gen. 4. And the first man of the latter world, was an husband-man, euen righteous Noah, Gen. 9. It is also of very great necessity, for the profit of the earth is for all. The King himselfe is serued by the field, Ecc. 5.9.
Ob. But none of account had euer esteeme thereof, for now men of any ciuill bringing vp, scorne to be imployed about this calling of husbandry, though they doe not put their hands to the labor.
Most honorable persons, hauehave honoured husbandry.Ans. The first Monarch euen God himselfe planted a garden, Gen. 2.8. The two next vnderunder him, the sole Monarches of the earth, Adam and Noah were husband-men. Also Vzziah a valiant King, 2. Chron. 26. Whose name, for his noble acts and victorious battells spread farre, Vers. 8. Yet loued husbandry, Vers. 10. If therefore most honourable persons, may make a calling honourable: then is this calling of husbandry most honourable.
Ob. It may be God doth not respect so much a man in this calling, as he doth in another, and then there is small comfort in it, how honourable, ancient, and necessary soeuer it be.
Answ. How much God respects the husband-man,God respects the husband-man. appeareth in these things: that God is his God, and instructeth him to discretion, & teacheth him, Esa. 28.26. He promiseth also blessing vponupon his labour, if he be diligent, Pro. 27.23.27. & 28.19. & 12.11.
Ob. But sometime it falleth out, that doe what wee can, one crop will not bring in an other, though wee husband it neuer so well.
Ans. If you will walke in my statutes (saith the Lord) your threshing shall reach to the vintage,Mens sinnes marre their husbandry. and the vintage shall reach to the sowing time, and yee shall eat your bread to the ful, Leuit. 26.5. Ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new, Vers. 10.
Ob. Wee oftentimes want raine, and many times hauehave it vnseasonably.
God promiseth seasonable weather, to such as serue him. Leuit. 26.4. Deut. 28.12. Ioel, 2.23.26Ans. If you will hearken diligently vntounto my cōmandements (saith the Lord) which I command you, to louelove the Lord your God, & to serue him with all your heart, and with all your soule, then I will giuegive you the raine of your Land in his due season, the first raine and the latter raine, that thou maiest gather in thy fruits, Deut. 11.13.14, hauehave grasse also in the field for thy cattell, that so thou maiest eat and be full, Vers. 50. And praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you, Ioel, 2.26.
Ob. I thinke the raine falleth according onelyonly to the course of nature, and is carried (as wee common people thinke) by Planets, and not by any such a prouident hand of God; for I hauehave knowne it to raine in one place, and not in another, & the same not far asunder.
Ans. Raine is by Gods appointment.It is the Lord God that calleth for the waters of the sea, & poureth them out vponupon the face of the earth, Amos, 5.8. And sendeth waters vponupon the field, Iob, 5.10. Yea it is hee that watereth the ridges of the earth abundantly, making it soft with showers, and blesseth the springing therof, Psal. 65.9.10. Hee doth also withhold the raine before the haruest, and causeth it to raine vponupon one Citie, and causeth it not to raine vponupon another, Amos, 4.7— And he only it is that reserueth vntounto vsus, the appointed weekes of the haruest, Ier. 5.24. Praised be his name.