A Taste of the Truth, Part 2
THE SECOND PART OF THE DIRECTIONS Shews how Christian Governours, and Governesses of Families whether Learned or Unlearned, are to serve God in all the parts of his Worship both in private and in publike, which consists of five Generall Directions as followeth.
The first generall Direction shews how, and after what manner a Christian Governour of a Family is daily to serve God.
FIrst, Having set up God in your heart, and knowing and doing your duty as a private Christian: Endeavour to set up God in your house, (a)Gen. 18.19. Iosh. 24.15. Act. 10.2. How you are to prepare to worship God in your house.For that end study the Scriptures, and more particularly such a part of the word as may furnish you with knowledge sufficient for the instructing and well governing of your Familie; (b)1 Tim. 3.5 2 Tim. 3.16.And after you have at any time read the word in private, or heard it in publike, and meditated upon it for your own use: How you are to make use of the word for your self and Family. 2 Tim. 3 16.Then mark what things there are in it that concern the instruction, reptehension, confutation, humiliation, consolation, confirmation, and edification of your Familie, for that end that you may speak of the particulars thereof unto them, When you read, open, or repeat the word among them. And meditate now and then upon one of these subjects or the like; As first, whether you can approve your heart to God that you command your children and servants, and all within your charge, to serve God sincerely. Gen. 18, 19.Secondly, whether your Family be with diligence and due regard ininstructed, 1 Tim. 3.4.watched over, and governed by you as one that looks to give an account of their souls yea or no? Thirdly, whether you have not just cause to be troubled in conscience if you were now to die, for neglecting of your Family? Often (I say) think on these things to quicken you to serve God sincerely in your house: And premeditate and pray before and after these exercises after that manner as you have been advised before and after your reading of the word, and meditating upon a subject as a private Christian.
And every morning (c)Ier. 10.25 Act. 10.2. See the conclusion of this direction about a further proof for family worship.after you have remembred (about the time when you appoint your Familie to come joynnly together) How you are every Morning to call upon God with all with all your house.what God hath done for you and your Family the night past, wherein you and they have sinned against the Lord the night or morning past, what you would have God to do for you, yours, and all his the day following, Praise God (as he shall give you utterance) for his mercies, humbly acknowledge your sins particularly as far as you can, generally where you cannot in particular, (d)1 Ioh. 1.9,Pray to God for Christs sake for what you would have of him for your self, your Family, for the Church of Christ, For our Nation, For our king, Queen; rheir Royall Progeny, and all in Authority, For your Minister and the Congregation you belong unto, and for all that have deserved, or desired to be mentioned by you at the throne of grace; And then commit your self, servants, children, and your whole house to Gods protection; Remembring to allow them pportunity to serve God in, and conveniences to serve God withall, How you are each day to order your people in your Family.as they are directed to do, as private Christians: Ordering every one of them to labour diligently in their calling, or some way to be exercised in some lawfull labour that may fit them for a calling; Giving thanks to God for your self and them before and after your ordinary meales (*)1 Sam. 9.13. Mat. 14, 19. Deut. 8.10.After the like manner as you have been directed as a private Christian. Appointing in your absence either the chiefest of your Familie, of your Sex, to pray upon all occasions in your stead; or your Wife, or she that is the Governesse of the Familie to call upon God with those of her Sex; Walking before them, and all men each day as a pattern of Piety in all your relations.
And being you are to know the estate of your Familie, (e)Gen. 18.16, & 35, 2. Psa. 101. What course you are to take that you may know the estate of the souls of your family.Therefore examine them about their spirituall condition, not only at their first coming unto you, or when you first begin to keep house. But also quarterly, or as often as you may conveniently; And diligently observe who among them are ignorant, knowing, apt, or unapt to receive knowledge through being learned, or unlearned, or the like, Who civill, wicked, hypocriticall: sincere, doubtfull or established Christians; writing down the estate of their souls (if you be in a capacity, and have opportunity so to do) so far as you apprehend it, that you may apply your self sutably unto them in your instructing of them, that you may see their proficiencie in Christianity, during the time of their being with you, that you may rightly inform your Minister or any other Officer of the Church of the estate of their souls, when it shall be upon any Solemn occasion demanded by them.
What course you are to take whereby you may be kept from being made partaker of your family Sins.And if any of them that are past their childehood (as you daily mark their carriage, and manner of conversation) Sin scandalously and openly; admonish them before the whole family; But if they sin presumptuously and secretly tell them of it one by one betwixt you and them; and if after that and a second admonition with one or two with you they remain impenitent in the same sin tell it unto the Church; 1 Tim. 5:20. Mat. 18.15, 16, 17.
And if they do not belong unto a Church that hath the exercise of Discipline in it; go on to admonish them time after time, that their sin may not cleave unto you, and tell the civill Magistrate of them, Psa. 101.3. 1 Sam. 3.13. Rom. 13.1.10 9. Pro. 19.18. Pro. 2….17. Luk. 12.41.and of all in the family that are come to years of understanding, if they do commit any evill that is to be punished by him; yea begin and go on to correct them, as well as those that are in their childe-hood if they are such as are to receive due correction from you: And if those that are of years of discretion in the Familie, that do know that they ought to obey you, do not take reproof and correction in such a manner as becomes Christians, then forbear to perform those duties unto them, and confesse their sins as also the sins of those that you cannot well reprove by private admonition (though they deserve it) not only secretly in your closet, but also publike in your Family (who knows but that God may in that instant reprove them, Note.and set their sins in order before them. Psal. 50.21.) Intreating the Lord in the name of Christ to pardon them both to your Family, and to those that have committed them. And if after private, and publike admonition, correction, the censure of the Church, and the punishment of the civill Magistrate, they live, and lie in their sin unrepented of; Then suffer them not to dwell in your house, Psa. 101.6, 7 8.least by them God be provoked, and the rest of your Family corrupted.
And when you t…ke any of your Familie of your own Sex into your Chamber, How you are to admonish your servants in private. Mat. 18.15. Gal. 6.1. Gen. 18.19. Exo. 20.10. Eze. 33.8. Iosh. 24.15. Eph. 611, 2, 3.5.or any other place (For it is most seemly in many cases, that the Governesse of your Family should tell the woman-kinde of your house of their sin, betwixt her and them) For to admonish them: Call upon God before and after that duty for a blessing upon the same, and shew them what grounds of Scripture you have to admonish them, and that you have the like charge of their souls, and of every soul in the Family, as a Pastor hath of his flock, and that therefore you desire to look after them, as one that must give an account of them: Shew them also how they are to be obedient unto you; Afterward reason with them in a milde familiar manner, and say unto them, Is your life now ordered according to the rule of Gods holy word? Rom. 2, 9.what will become of your immortall soul if you live and die in this course of life? Thus use all means in all meeknesse of spirit, to convince them of the errour of their waies: And they being once convinced of sin, Ioh. 16, 9.10.11. 1 Ioh. 2 7.use the like means to convince them of righteousnesse, and of the sufficiency of Christs blood to cleanse them from all sinne.
And when you take your children into your closet to perform the like duty unto them carry your self in the like manner; How you are to reprove your children in your closet. 1 Sam. 2.23, 24.25. Pro. 31.2.and commune with them in a more loving, compassionate, familiar way then with others, saying, What my children of whom I have had such good hopes! What my children for whom I have made so many praiers! What my children about whom I have taken so much care and pains! Are you given to such and such sins (naming then the sins you know they live in) O my dear children what do you mean by this course? Do you neither regard Gods honour, my comfort, nor the good of your own souls? Wherefore doe you live? Is it that you might eat and drinke and rise again to play? No, No, My children God gives you life, and being, and moving, and all you are and have, that you might seek his glory, and your own salvation, 1 Cor. 10.31. Eccl. 3.12.and that you might do good in your life. Speak then such things unto them as may take them off from that way of wickednesse they walk in, and carry them on to those duties they are negligent in; Telling them then, or at some other time (For it becomes godly parents solemnly, and frequently to talk with their children that are come to years of understanding not only about the temporall estate of their outward man, but also about the spirituall estate of their souls) what course God would have them to take: How heartily desirous you are to provide for their temporall, spirituall, and eternall good: How much you could love them, and respect them, and rejoyce in them, if they would but endeavour to give glory to God by beleeving, and living so as becomes the Gospel.
And when you admonish any of your people before your whole Familie; Let it be done wisely and in love, and meeknesse of spirit, and immediatly before or after your Family praier, How and when you are to admonish any of your house before the whole family. Psa. 01.2. How you are to counsell them that you turn out of your family. Lev. 15.17.that you may seek God for a blessing upon it, either before or after it: Improving your Authority then and alwaies in your Family so, as that you may be a terrour to them that do evill, and an encourager of them that do well.
And when you turn away any of your Family, tell them plainly, and fully of the causes wherefore you neither dare, nor will, nor can suffer them to abide in your house. And admonish them in such a loving, mild, compassionate manner, as that they may see that you seek Gods glory, and the good of their souls; Counselling them to beware of every thing that may provoke God either to cause them to be turned out of the Family of men upon earth: Or out of the Family of heaven, to be delivered up unto Satan to commit all sin here with greedinesse, and to be tormented with the Devill and his Angels for ever hereafter.
And because you are not only to be a spirituall Priest to your family to pray for them, How many waies you are to instruct, and catechize your family.and a King to rule them: But also a Prophet to teach them (i)Deut. 6.7. Eph. 6.4. 2 Tim. 3.15. Mat. 13.51.Therefore read and open the Scriptures daily unto them, or as you have liberty, opportunity, and ability, examining them therein, and asking them questions whereby they may understand it, and so profit by it: Or repeat the Sermons that they heard on the Lords day, or in the week season upon any occasion, or appoint them to be repeated, or solemnly speak of them, or of any remarkeable thing therein unto them, calling upon them to give you an account of the benefit they conceive they receive thereby, or cause them to propound their scruples, doubts, and cases of conscience, answering them as farre as you are able, and referring them to their Minister where you cannot: Or catechise them in this, or some other catechisme sutable for them: Opening and enlarging every thing unto them as you examine them therein. Exhorting them to teach one another, and to be forward and willing to be taught one of another the things that may make them wise unto salvation; Appointing them that are learned, and that are as yet children in years and understanding, daily to get by heart some part of their catechismes and the Scriptures therein quoted untill they be perfect in them; Reading the answers of the questions, or causing them to be read unto the unlearned: As suppose one answer one day, or one week, and another the next day or week, untill they have them perfectly in their memories. 2 Tim. 3.16.17. Note these diverse kindes of directions for the instructing of your people in such a way as that they may be sound in knowledge and skill full in the Scriptures.Framing questions out of them, and out of the Scriptures quoted to prove the particulars therein, as you see it needfull to make your children, and servants understanding Christians: Or read and open such Scriptures unto them (having taught them the divinity and the sufficiencie of the Scriptures as it is held forth unto you in the second Epistle to Timothy, the third chapter and the two last verses,) as proves the heads of the principles of Christian Religion, that they may the better understand the rest of the Scriptures when they reade them, or hear them read, opened, and preached: As also that they may the sooner understandingly remember the Answers of the Questions of this, or any other Catechisme; As for example; often reade and open unto them these following Scriptures that proves, First, That the works of God should convince them that there is a God, Psal. 19.1, Rom. 1.20. Secondly, That God is a Spirit, but one in Essence and three in Persons, Iohn 4.24. 1 Iohn 5.7. Thirdly, That God made them at the first in Adam righteous after his own image, Genesis 1.27. Eccles. 7.29. Fourthly, That they have sinned and made themselves liable unto death and condemnation, Rom. 5.12.18. Fifthly, That God out of his love gave Christ to redeem them out of their sinfull cursed condition, Iohn 3.16. Sixthly, That none are saved by Christ, but those that beleeve in him, Iohn 3.18, 36. Seventhly, That it is not in their own power unfainedly to beleeve in Christ, 1 Cor 12, 3. Eph. 2.8. Eighthly, That they ought to wait upon God in hearing, that they may beleeve, Matth. 17 5. Rom 10.14, to 18. Ninthly, That they ought to live by faith (after they doe beleeve) a holy life according to the rule of the word, Rom. 1.17. Matth. 5.16. Tit 2.13. Tenthly, That their soules at their death (if they live and die in the faith) shall goe to God and be with Christ untill the day of judgement, and that then their bodies shall be raised again, united unto their souls, made like to the glorious bodie of Christ, and so they shall be ever with the Lord in glorie, Eccles. 12.7. Philip. 1.23. 1 Thes. 4.16, 17. And when you reade and open these or the like Scriptures unto them (as suppose one Scripture one day, and another another day, or as you have opportunity) require them all to get the words thereof by heart, and examine them that are learned therein after this manner; Saying unto them, Shew me a Scripture (causing them to search them out) that proves that the works of God should convince you that there is a God: That shews you what God it: That tells you that there is but one God: That holds forth unto you that there are three persons in the Godhead: and so name the aforementioned principles, and all the Doctrines of God one by one, that contain in them all things to be known and beleeved necessary unto salvation: having the Scriptures to prove them in your minde, or written in a paper (if you use more then are here set down) that you may inform them that are ignorant, that you may be a remembrancer unto them that are forgetfull, and that you may quicken and enliven them that are knowing, by calling upon them to make a beleeving practicall use theeeof; Ask them afterward that are unlearned what the aforementioned or the like Scriptures (naming them one by one, and speaking the words thereof unto them) argues, proves, or holds forth unto them, or what they can gather from them, or what the meaning of them is; As thus. What doth this Scripture chiefly prove? For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternall power and Godhead. And if they be unable to answer you, then say unto them, Do not these words prove that the works of God should convince you that there is a God? Composing your questions so, as that they may contain in them the truths that those Scriptures you propound unto them do chiefly prove, and so as that the ignorant of your familie may be put to answer no more then yes, or no, according to the example in the Epistle to the Catechisme; Or frame your questions so in your examining them in the principles of the Doctrine of Christ, as that they may answer directly in Scripture phrase. As thus Are there three persons in the Godhead? The answer, There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost. (k)1 Ioh. 5, 7And when they have learned the speculative part of religion, Then Catechize them after the like manner in the directions that are for the practice of piety, and in the first place in those parts of the Directions that shews them when and how to pray daily unto God so as to be accepted of him, through Christ, and that directs them how to attend family duties, and the publike Ministery of the word: Examining them afterward in the other parts of the directions as they have occasion to make use of them. And appoint them that are learned, orderly to get by heart and as soon as they can, the Directions that are for private Christians, and in the mean while to turn unto them, as they have occasion to make use of them; And either read in the like order as aforesaid, or cause the Directions to be read unto the unlearend untill they have them in their memories: Opening the Scriptures unto them that are cited to prove the particulars thereof. and more especially those Scriptures that are quoted for the explaining of the Lords Praier, in that brief paraphrase you have upon it; If God be pleased to work inwardly by his spirit upon their hearts, as you endeavour to work upon them outwardly by means: they will be quickned and enabled to pray, and to practise piety as they come to a right understanding thereof; Therefore be incouraged both to begin, and to go on to instruct them as well in the practicall, as in the speculative parts of Christianity, and leave the successe unto God; There is a need of all rhese waies of Catechizing.Cathechizing them (after they doe in any measure understand the chief grounds of Religion) one way at one time, another way at another exercise, or when you perceive them to be formall in their answers; one person in the word of the beginning of Christ, another in the deep things of Christ as you are able to ask, or as you discern them able to answer. Truly such is the dulnesse of our understanding by nature (l)Eph 1.18.and the flownes of our hearts to beleeve (m)Luk. 24.25.and to live to God, and the cunningnesse of them to deceive our selves and others herein (n)Ier. 17.9.As that there is a need of …ll these waies of Catechizing, to make your people understanding, beleeving, and powerfully godly Christians; And although change of questions doth puzzle, and confound some young beginners (and those whom it doth must be kept to the form of questions and answers in this or some other Catechisme) yet it will take off others from formality in Answers, namely such as are already speculatively knowing, or such as are very apt to learn set and accustomed formes of Answers, What things you a rechiefly to Catechize your your people in. See the fifth Direction about the manner how Mothers are to teach their young children, and do you likewiseand will edifie more (if once they be well-principled) then if the questions and answers were to be read in a set form; And when you examine them any way at any time out of the Scriptures read, opened, preached, repeated, spoken of, or conferred about by any, or in these Directions, or in this catechize, or in the exposition thereof, or any other: Endeavour chiefly thereby to instruct them in the great mistery of godlinesse necessary unto salvation (n)1 Tim. 3.16. Ioh. 17.3.and in those things as may clearly direct them how to give glory to God by beleeving, and as may help them to know and practise their duties to God and man in their present relations; After that catechize them in truths sutable to their capacities, and the present condition they are in; And teach and whet upon them such truths as may set their present sins in order before them, as may bring them to godly sorrow for the same, as may direct them how to get pardon of them, and power against them, through faith in Christ (o)See the third Direction concerning the manner how you are to Catechize your Family about their sins.as may inform them of the riches of Gods goodnesse, and of his forbearance and long-suffering towards them, that they may give him the thanks for them that is due to his name: (p)See the third Direction how you are to Catechize your people about the mercies of God.As may further them to glorifie God, in obeying his will so far as it is revealed unto them out of his word; And take the like course for meditation and praier before and after these exercises that you are advised to take before and after your reading of the word in private; preparing your self in your closet for these, and every family performance (if conveniently you may) either of praying, How you are to prepare for every Family performance.reading, opening, and repeating the word, of catechizing your family in or about the word, and the estate of their souls, of singing of Psalms or the like according to the nature of the exercise, and in such a manner as may be most for Gods glory, and the good of the souls of your whole family, Teaching them occasionally at all times, even in the midst of your worldly businesses (q)Deut. 6.7, Eph, 4, 29.:
And as you are the husband of a wife, frequently if not daily call upon God for, How you are as a husband to pray for, and with your wife.and with your wife; (r)1 Pet. 3, 7.And that you may call to minde what your failings are in your duties to God and man, and one to another: what the goodnesse of God is, and hath been unto you, and what those mercies are that you want, and that you would have God to bestow upon you, and what those mercies are that you want, and that you would have God to bestow upon you. This done look up to God for a spirit of grace and supplication, Bewailing your failings with godly sorrow, craving pardon of them, and power against them, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sufficiency of grace contentedly and patiently to undergoe the cares and troubles, and to resist the temptations that accompany the married condition: to make a sanctified use of all the comforts thereof, to watch over one another for good, to provoke one another to love and good works, to live together as heirs of the grace of life, and to walk in all your relations towards God and all men, and one to another, so as becomes Christians; Praying to God further for the comforts, and fruits of Marriage (s)1 Sam. 1.10 11.and for what else you want, And blessing the Lord for what you have, do, or hope to receive from him; And before or after these duties, or at any other time commune together about the estate of your family, and consult with God, and one with another, how you may reform your selves, and Family: so as that you, and your house may serve God in holines, and righteousnesse all the daies of your life.
What duties you owe to God for every childe he bestows upon you.And when God shall be pleased to make you parents of children, Be humbled for deriving sin unto them, Pray, and act faith on the promises for them, (t)Act. 2.39.Blesse God for his goodnesse and patience towards them, for his care and providence over them, in preserving them in the womb, and at the birth: in ordaining the blood of Christ as a remedy t… cleanse them from sin, (u)1 Ioh 1.7.and the Sacrament of Bap…isme to be asign and seal thereof unto them, (x)Rom 4.11 with Col. 2.12 13.And shew forth your thankfulnesse unto God for them in giving them unto him again, (y)1 Sam. 22.in procuring Baptisme for them (y)Gen. 1…, 7 9. with Act. 2 39, & Col. 2.12.praying to him continu…lly for them and with them as soon as they are able so much as to kneel by you. In teaching them the grounds of Christian Religion out of this or some other Catechisme: In bringing them up for the Lord under his Ordinances, (z)Pro, 22.6, Eph. 6.4.And in casting your care upon him about the estate of their souls, (a)Phil. 4.6.whether they live or die; These and the like duties God requires of you, for every childe he bestows upon you; It is meet also and your bounden duty to bring up your children in some lawfull calling, upon which (by Gods blessing) they may live, and in which they may fear God, (b)Gen. 4.2. 2 Thes. 3.10, 11.12.For this purpose you should cause them to be exercised daily, in such a way as may best fit them for the calling you intend them to be of. And that they may be the better fitted thereunto, as also that they may be made more capable of the knowledge of God: Let them learn to read either in your house, or at the school, They may learn to read from their fifth, Children may learn to read from their fifth, unto their seventh year if taey be rightly taught, and if they be ordinarily capable of learning.unto their seventh year (in which time they can doe little or nothing towards the earning of their daily bread) For let them be but rightly taught three quarters of an hour each day at the School; Or if you be unable to bring them up at the School, let but one that can read in your Family, seriously teach them three quarters of an hour every day at three distinct times, and they may and will learn to read, by that teaching, if they be followed with it, in the space of two years, to wit, from their fifth unto their seventh year, if they be ordinarily capable of learning; Afterward they may keep their reading and better it by their practice of it, and they may of themselves learn to write, with very little teaching by the help of a copie-booke, and with little or no cost at all: The like may be said unto the unlearned men and women that are not disabled by age or otherwise, if they had but a willing minde to learn; My thinks the chief of severall Parishes and Congregations with their Ministers in these reforming times, should cause the children of the poor of their Towns to be brought up in such a way as that they may learn to read the Scriptures in their native tongue: I know the glory of God and the good of poor souls calls for it; The reason of my adding these things in this placeThese things I have here added because many of my own country, and some of every country where I do, and have lived, are unlearned, and are thereby made more uncapable of the knowledge of God then others are.
How you are to meditate and to call upon God in the Evening.Finally, Every Evening a little before you cause your people to meer together, (c)Iosh. 24. Psa. 55.16.17.Seriously consider what God hath done for you, and your Family the day past: wherein you, or they have transgressed the Law, or disobeyed the Gospel: What you, they, and all you are bound to pray for, want, either for your bodies or souls; And then make your requests to God by praier, confession, and thanks-giving: And so leave your self and family with the Lord to be at his disposall that night following and for ever. Serving him twise every day after this manner, to prevent a strangenesse in your souls towards him. How, and why you are to worship God in your family twise every day,As you can have ordinarily no hinderance from this Family worship: So you can have no excuse for your neglecting of it, that God will accept of it. For the Lord hath placed the solitary in Families (d)Psa. 68.6.not so much for our earthly as for our heavenly conveniences that we might improve one anothers society for his glory, and the good of one anothers souls; And it is meet and equall, and your bounden duty as you are a Christian Governour of a Family, not only to instruct your people, but also to blesse God daily with all your house (if they are Christians by profession with whom you may join, and not idolaters) for those mercies you daily receive from him: To be humbled daily for those sins that you commit against him: To pray daily for those mercies that you would enjoy together (e)Deut. …1.19 Mat. 6.…. to 16.And it is for the good of your souls as well as for Gods glory that you should so do: Did ever any Master of a family serve God Morning and Evening with all his house in vain (f)Ifa. 45.19,Surely while we are with God he is with us (g)2 Chro. 15.2. Iam. 4, 8.although we do not alwaies discern it; And one minutes Communion with him in Jesus Christ is better then all the fellowship of all the Men upon Earth while the word endures.
The second generall Direction declares unto you how a Christian Governour of a Family is to be mindefull of the Lords day before it come, for himself, and his family, and how he is to keep it holy, and to perform the duties thereof with them when it is come.
How you are to prepare for the sanctifying of the Sabbath.SEcondly, As you are in your family to serve God every day, so especially on the Lords day; (a)Exo. 20.8 to 12.And therefore you are to be mindefull of it for your self and for all in your house generally every day, so as to prepare your self and them who are in communion together, 1 Cor 10.16, 17. for the Lords Supper if administred, particularly the day before, that the worldly businesses of your whole house may be so ordered as that they may be timely ended; By your timely laying aside your worldly businesse.so as that every one of the family may have somewhat more space for their private duties in their closet then ordinarily they have other evenings, and so as that you may have sufficient time this evening to instruct and catechize your people, though you should have none in the evenings of the work daies before. And before you enter upon your family duties, call to minde something to speak of unto them, that may tend to the preparation of their hearts for the due sanctifying of the day, and the right receiving of the Sacrament if administred. And after you have thought (about the time of your going to praier in your familie) of your unworthinesse to have any thing to doe with God, (b)Luk. 18.13.and of your insufficiencie to teach, minde or quicken your self, or them to any good work, or word; (c)Ioh. 15.5. 2 Cor. 3.5. 1 Cor. 3 6, 7. By examining your family about the truth and growth of grace in them if the Lords Supper be administred.Call upon God for communion with him through his Christ, and for a blessing from him upon his ordinances, that thereby he may be glorified, and you somewhat furthered to eternall life. Then examine them who are to receive the Sacrament (if there be a communion) about the Author, (d)1 Cor. 11.23.and the signes of the Sacrament, and the ends for which it was ordained: As also about their knowledge, faith, repentance, charitie, desire after the Sacrament; And call upon them further to examine themselves that they may become worthy receivers, and to carry themselves at, and after their receiving in such a manner as they are advised to doe as private Christians; Afterward instruct the rest of your family that have not been as yet admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in any reformed-Gospel-like way, or order, in the principles of the Doctrine of Christ; And when you perceive any of them willing to communicate with the Saints at the Lords Table, then make it known unto your Minister and unto the Elders who may jointly declare their meetnes to the Brethren of the Church, whose consent is requisite to their more free and comfortable admission.
Or (if there be no communion) by teaching and catechizing of them in the grounds of Religion.And if there be no communion, then catechize them in the grounds of Religion, or reade the third branch of the first part of the Directions: Examining them in it, charging them in the name of Christ to prepare for, and to keep holy the Sabbath, as they are therein directed. And so conclude the exercise as you doe other evenings with inlarged praiers for grace to sanctifie the Lord in your hearts, and his day when it comes: importuning the Lord in a particular manner (when you have no opportunitie to teach and examine them as I have even now shewed you) to minde you of your duties, and to strengthen you through Christ to perform them concerning your preparation for, and your keeping holy of his day: Requiring your familie to finish the works of their particular callings betimes, and seasonably to go to their rest, that they may awake with the Lord right early, and wait for him more then they that watch for the morning: I say, more then they that watch for the morning.(e)Ps. 130.6. Psal. 63.1.
How you are to begin the day in private.And in the morning after you have ended your private duties, and so disposed of all your necessarie worldly affaires in, or about your house, as that none may be therewith unnecessary kept from, How you are to premeditate before praier.or cumbred in the sanctifying of the day; Meditate of the riches of Gods goodnesse to your familie at all times, particularly the week past: of the sins you are become guilty of, the by-past week, morning, or at any time: of the mercies, especially spirituall that you, your familie, or any that you are to pray for, want, and that you would have God that day to bestow upon you; After that (your people being come together) praise God for all his blessings temporall in earthly things, and spirituall in heavenly things that you have, doe, or hope to partake of: How, and after what manner you are to pray.Be humbled for your sins of all sorts, ask what you want: fervently praying for grace to sanctifie the Lord, and his day, for communion and fellowship with him, through his Christ, and for a blessing upon your Minister, his Ministery, and upon all the ordinances you are to partake of that day, that every one of you may profit somewhat thereby to his glorie and your own comfort. Appointing them afterward to take that food in due season they stand in need of, to go with you to the publike ordinances, and to be attentive unto them from first, to last; (*)Zac. 8.21. How you are to counsell them to to attend their own Minister.Advising them to attend their own Minister (if he be conceived by the Church to be a true Minister of Christ) whom God hath set over them, as one that must give an account of their souls, (f)Heb. 13.17. Ezek. 34.10. Compare these Scriptures together.and from whose Ministery they may rather expect a …lessing, then from any other, although he be …f weaker parts, and of meaner gifts then o…hers, and subject to more infirmities then o…hers; (g)Ier. 3.15. 1 Pet. 5.2. to 6. Heb. 13.17. 1 Cor. 16.10. Ephes. 4.7. 1 Cor. 12 7.not giving way unto them to leave …im but by his generall consent and leave, (h)1 Thes. 5.13.… least they grieve the spirit of Christ in vexing …is soul, and be found despisers of Christ in be…ng contemners of him and his Ministery (i)Luk. 10.16.) …nd at such times when they can either approve …heir hearts to God, and manifest i… to man …hat they can profit more by some other then …y him: or when a speciall occasion is offered unto them of hearing another that is preaching upon a subject that is sutable to the estate of their souls. Walking so before them in your going to the publique worship, in your abiding at it, (hearing then and alwaies for your self and them too) in your return from it (bringing some poor home with you, (k)Iob 31.16, 17. Ps 41.1, 2, 3, 4.or approving your heart to God (if you be a receiver) that you have a willing minde thereunto, 2 Cor. 8.12. How you are to be an ensample of holines unto them.if you had wherewithall to relieve them) in your continuing at home, in your giving of thanks, in your eating, drinking, and conference, as that you may be a pattern of piety to them, and to all that shall behold you; (l)1 Tim. 4.12.Ordering them so as that the day be neither profaned by worldly words, works, vain sports, nor through idlenesse neglected by them: How you are to prepare for, and to perform duty betwixt Sermons.Preparing your self in private for familie duties (that the publique ordinances may be improved by you to the uttermost for Gods glorie and the good of your soules) by considering with your self how you should explain, and apply the word sutably to every soul for their profit: how you should pray with them and for them, and what sutable Psalme you should propound unto them, whereby you, and they may sing with understanding, and grace in your hearts to Gods glorie. Causing afterward your whole house to attend those exercises, and (having called upon God for a blessing upon them, for one may preach, and another may repeat and all in vain without Gods blessing. (m)1 Cor. 3.5, 6, 7.) either repeat the Sermon, or cause it to be repeated, if it was writ by any of you, or if any of you were able to remember it: or speak of it unto them what you can remember that concerns them: or require them to give an account of their profiting, or turn the heads of the Sermon into questions sutable to every person of them: or teach and examine them any way as you are able, and as you conceive may be most for their edification, Concluding the exercise with singing of Psalms, thanks-giving, and praier for a blessing upon the Ministery and means of grace you are further that day to partake of: Remembring so to order and end these private duties as that you may be in due time at the publike worship: choosing rather to omit them, then to neglect the publike; How you are to be exemplarily holy in the following part of the day.Going so before them the following part of the day in the performance of all holy duties that you are advised to perform as a private Christian: as that they and others beholding your godly conversation may glorifie your Father which is in heaven; (n)Mat. 5.16.Looking so after the necessary works of your Family as that neither man, nor beast may be neglected (o)Mat. 12.1. to 14. How you are to prepare for, and to perform duty in the Evening.Preparing for and performing of duty in the evening (and at all times in the like manner upon the like occasion) after such a manner as you were advised to prepare for and to perform duty betwixt Sermons; yea inlarging your premeditations, praises, praiers, confessions of negligences, defects, and failings in duty; Behaving your self so, How you are to use all diligenc… to win their souls to Godthe ensuing part of the evening, whether you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, as becomes a godly Governour of a Family: Taking those of your Sex into your closet on every Lords day in the evening (or whensoever else you have opportunity) fo… to teach and examine them about the estate o… their souls, and whether they pray, and ho… they pray: for to pray with them, and for t… direct them how to pray, using all means al… manner of waies, that you might save som… (p)1 Cor. 9.19. to 23. 1 Cor. 10.33. Pro. 11.30.Appointing the Governesse of the famil… to do likewise, with those of her sex; Remembring this day and alwaies so to appoint… and so to conclude all these duties as tha… they may be neither burthensome (p)Mat. 9.13.12, 7. Mat. 26.41.to you… self nor others, and so as that neither yo… nor they may be kept from, nor hindere… in your private duties; Spending the da… (if you should at any time be deptive… of the publike Ordinances) in prayer in reading, in catechizing, in holy conference, or the like; Commending them to God, and the word of his grace, whic… is able to build them up, and to give them an inheritance among them that are sanctified (q)Act, 20.32..
The third Direction shews how Governours of Families are to worship God in the extraordinary duties of Fasting and thanksgiving both in their houses and in the publike Congregation.
THirdly, How you are to prepare for, a family Fast.When you are called upon any solemn occasion to keep a family Fast (a)Zac. 12.12 Act. 10, 2.30.Endeavour (having called upon God for a blessing) not only to prepare your self but your family also: By minding them of it the evening before (if not sooner) and of the occasion thereof: By shewing them their iniquities (b)Isa. 58.2.transgressions and sins, and the severall aggravations thereof, as namely, how they have been against knowledge, against vows and promises, against protestations and covenants (for which they should repent ei- that they have taken them if they be not warranted by the Scripture, (c)Rom. 14.23.or that they have broken them, if they be according to the word, (d)Rom. 1.3.and against such and such persons, at such and such times, or the like: By minding them also of the abominations and sins of those persons, and places (if the day be kept in the behalf of others) that makes them, or those you fast for, worthy of such and such a judgement felt or feared, and unworthy of such and such a blessing expected and desired as the occasion of the Fast is, whether it be in the behalf of your own family, or in the behalf of others.
By speaking of the greatnesse and graciousnesse of God unto them, By calling upon them to prepare for it, and to keep it unto the Lord as they are directed to do as private Christians. Inlarging your self in your evening praiers according to the occasion of the Fast: Intreating the Lord with all fervency and importunity (when you want time to prepare your self and people so as I have now directed you) to minde you of those duties and so perswade and inable you through Christ to perform them, that he requires of you, concerning your preparation for, and your keeping of an acceptable fast unto him.
And after you have sought the Lord in the morning as a private Christian, How you are to begin it, By Meditation,and ordered the businesses of your house: Seriously call to remembrance the by-past and present sins, of your self and family, and of those you are to seek God for: by reason of which God might withhold that mercy from you (whether it be the obtaining of a blessing, or the keeping off, or the removall of a calamity felt, feared or deserved) that you are intended to seek him for by prayer and fasting: And the Scriptures, or Sermon notes, you are intended to read, open, or speak of unto them that are sutable to the businesse of the day; Beginning the day with praier (as you do By praier.other mornings) but with some inlargements that God would so begin, go on, and finish the day, and duties thereof with you as that he may be exalted; and you abased and humbled before him; How you are to go on in it, by instructing them.Reading afterward those Scriptures, and opening them unto them, or repeating those Sermon notes you had meditated upon for them; Examining them about their sinnes, and the sinnes of those that they are humbled for, By catechizing of them about their sins.that they may be convinced of them, and that they may mourn inwardly in their souls for them as you confesse and bewail them in outward expressions; As for example, (b)Ezek. 9.41 Psa 35.13.14.say to one that is book-learned shew me a Scripture that proves security is a sinne (c)Amos. 6.3. to 10. 1 Thes. 5, 3.that ignorance is a sinne, (d)Isa. 27 11.that hypocrisie is a sinne (e)Mat. 23.13 14 15.7.8.naming after this manner the sins of your family; And say to the unlearned, doth not this Scripture prove that swearing is a sin, (f)Mat. 5.34.that lying is a sin? (g)Hos. 4.2. Eph. 4.25.Naming then the words of Scripture that prove swearing and lying to be sins; Renewing again your prayers in a fervent, importune manner for a sight of, for humiliation for sin, for pardon of, and power against sin. More particularly for the removall of the miseries, and the obtaining of the mercies you wait upon God for. Exhorting your family in the close of the day to lay aside their sins, How you are to conclude it.to draw near to God, and to put forth new acts of Faith, on Jesus Christ, that they may receive remission of them, and power to break them off with righteousnesse, (h)Phil. 4.13.that no good thing may be withholden from them because of them, (i)Ier. 5.25.calling upon them to use all means to bring the wickednesse of those to an end (if the day have been set apart in the behalf of others) that they have mourned for; And so conclude the day (after you have reviewed it in your thoughts) by praier, confession, and thanks-giving. Beleeving that you shall have what you seek God for, so far as it is for Gods glory and your good: And yet using all means for the procuring of what you beleeve and pray for: Devoting your selves then and for ever unto the Lord, Giving or determining so much for the poor, as the food came unto you denied your selves in (k)Isa. 58.7.10..
And if your family fast be kept after such a manner as that you give notice of it certain daies before to your Pastour, What you are to doe if others joyn with you in your Family Fast.and to neighbour Christians about you: Then procure your Minister and some of them to perform for you these or the like duties that I have advised you unto, ordering the day and the duties thereof as you think good, How you are to prepare for, and to begin, and end a Congregationall Fast.so as that all things be done to edifying and in an humble manner to the glorifying of God.
In like manner when you are called by the Church or publique Authority (l)Act. 14.13 2 Cro. 2013. Ezra. 8.21. Ion. 3.7.to keep a publike fast in a publike Assembly: So prepare your self and family for it, and so, begin and end the day, as you were even now advised in your keeping of a Family fast; Catechizing them about their sins, and the abominations of those they are to mourn for (as I have shewed) either the evening before the Fast, or in the morning before the publike worship began; Behaving your selves so in your early going to the Congregation, in your abiding at it, in your return from it, in your exercises betwixt and after Sermons, and in all the duties of the day: As that you may approve your selves unto God to be upright in your keeping of the day unto him.
And when God shall call you (by giving you what you sought him for by praier and fasting) To keep a day of thanks-giving unto him; How you are to prepare for a day of thanksgiving kept in your private family.Minde your Family of it (having called upon God for a blessing upon the exercise) the evening, or two, or three daies before, and of the occasion thereof: Shewing them their iniquities, and the sins of those (if the day be kept in respect of others) that make them unworthy of any mercy: Telling them how, and after what manner they are to prepare for, and to keep the day as private Christians: Inlarging your self in your evening praiers according to the occasion of your thanks-giving; Beseeching the Lord more particularly when you have no opportunity for these duties of preparation) to prepare your hearts for the duties of the approaching day, and to enable you through Christ to perform them to his praise, and your comfort.
And after you have sought the Lord in your closet and ordered your family affairs: How you are to begin it.Call to minde the sins of your family, and of those you are to give thanks to God for, that makes you and them lesse then the least of Gods mercies: The riches of Gods goodnesse that either you, yours, or any of Gods people have, do, or hope to partake of: particularly the mercies for which you set the day apart to give thanks to God: The Scriptures or Sermon-notes you are intended to read, open, or speak of unto them.
Begin the day with praier (as you do at other times) but with inlarged petitions for the preparation of your hearts (m)Pro. 16.1. 2 Chr 32.25 How you are to go on in it, by teaching or examining them about Gods merciesto return thanks unto God in some sincere measure answerable unto his mercies; Reading afterward or opening some part of the word, or repeating some Sermon unto them, that you had afore thought upon: or examining them about Gods mercies after this manner, saying to them that can read, Shew me a Scripture that proves that you have your life, being, and moving from God: (n)Act. 17.25 to 29.That all you are, and have is bestowed upon you, and continued unto you by the goodnesse, and grace of God, (o)1 Cor. 15.10. Act. 17 25,and that you are to give thanks unto God for the same, (p)Psa 100. Eph 5.20.Naming on this wise the particular mercies for which you would have them to praise God.
Catechizing the unlearned after this, or the like manner upon such an occasion as this, or at any other time when you see it needfull, saying, Do not these Scriptures prove that God made you, (q)Psa. 100.3That God hath preserved you, and provided for you ever since you were made; (r)Psa. 22.11.12.That you have what you have, and are what you are in regard of your naturall, civill and spirituall being of grace (if any you have) by the riches of Gods goodnesse and free grace (s)1 Cor. 15, 10. Eph. 1.1. to 7 Act. 17.25. Eph, 5.20. By renewing your praiers and praises.and that you are to blesse God for the sums; Speaking then the words of Scripture that proves the particulars aforemenioned; Renewing again with all zeal and fervencie your praises and thanksgivings for all mercies, above all for Christ, particularly for the mercies that are the occasion of your thanksgiving; Making intercession for all men, for our King and for all in Authority, and for what ever you want, especially for grace to improve Gods mercies for his glory; Admonishing one another in Psalmes, By singing of Psalms.and hymnes, and spirituall songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto the Lord: Finishing all in due time that you may refresh your selves with the fat, and sweet of the creature more then at other times; Allowing your self and familie liberty to visit your kinred, friends, and poor neighbours that they may praise God with you, and magnifie the Lord on your behalf; Blessing God in and with your food, raiment, libertie, livelihood, and in and with all that you are and have: Making it appear (if God have made you a giver, and not a receiver) by distributing unto the poor: if not, by telling to Gods praise how the Lord hath stirred up others to distribute unto your necessities; How you are to finish the day and the doties thereof.exhorting your people in the close of the day to get into Christ, and to abide in him (t)Ioh, 15.1. to 8.that they may bring forth much fruit to Gods glorie; concluding the day (after you have premeditated how you have behaved your selves towards God the day past, and how the Lord hath manifested himself unto you) by thanksgiving, confession, praier, and a promise to God to endeavour to manifest your thankfulnesse unto him for all his mercies vouchsafed unto you, yours, or any of his by your godly conversation. And if your Minister and neighbour Christians join with you in keeping a day of thanksgiving unto the Lord in your familie: procure your Pastor, or some of them to help you to perform the duties thereof so as I have shewed, or any other way as you please, so as that all things be done in such a holie manner as may make most for Gods praise.
How you are to prepare for, and to keep a day of thanks-giving in a Congregation.And when you are called by the Magistrate, or the Church of which you are a member to keep a day of thanks giving in a publique congregation: (u)Hest. 9.19 21.prepare your self, and house for it, and begin, and end it in like manner as you have been advised to prepare for, and to enter upon, and end a private day of thanksgiving in your familie: Examining them about the mercies of God vouchsafed unto them (as you have been shewed) either the evening before, or the morning before the beginning of the publique worship; Ordering your self and house in such a manner in your going unto the meeting of the Saints, in your abiding among them, in your going from them, and in all the duties of the day: as that you may approve your selves unto God and man that you are upright, and sincere in your thanksgiving.
An Objection.But you may object and say, I cannot pray through the weaknesse of my memory either as a private Christian, or as a Governour of a familie without the use of a book of praier.
First, That reverend Man of God Doctor Sibbs answers you in his Epitomie of the Seven Treatises, The answer to it.pag. 689. and tells you, that you may make use of a book if need he, and withall he saith, that it is many waies better to get forms of praier by heart, then to use a book in the time of praying.
Secondly I answer, See the conclusion of the Directions for private Christians about Obiections and answers unto them.You may pray as a private Christian, and as a Governour of a familie (if God have given you to beleeve, and have given you utterance to pray with a book) through the help of the spirit by these Directions without the use of a book of praier in the time of praying; For the spirit that helps us to beleeve, helps us to pray, and in some weak measure to cry Abba Father; (x)Ioh. 1.12. with Gal. 4.6. and Rom. 8.15, 26. See the next Direction about your procuring another to perform family duties for you. Two reasons why Christians cannot pray sincerely by set formes of praier, if they tie themselves unto them.And if after your premeditation you want words to expresse your minde with, doe but commit some promises, and phrases of Scripture-praiers to memorie, and you will be therewith in due time furnished with sutable expressions, and as it were with the language of the holy Ghost, whereby you may pray with understanding to your self and others. And (if I may give my judgement) you can neither pray, nor worship God sincerely (being helped by the spirit, and gifted to pray otherwise) by set forms of praier, I mean so as to tie your self unto them, that is, neither to pray for more mercies in your closet and familie, nor to confesse more sins, nor to praise God for more blessings then are set down in such and such formes of praier appointed for morning, noontime, evening, or the like; First because you have new mercies every time you are solemnly to make your requests to God by praier, and supplication with thanksgiving, to blesse God for, new sins to confesse and bewail, and new wants to make known to God which are not particularly set down in any form of praier (y)Rom 8.26. Lam. 3.23.whatsoever; Secondly, Because it is not onelyonly your spirituall liberty, but also your Christian dutie to poure out your spirit before the Lord (z)Heb. 4.16. Ephes. 2.18.in giving him thanks for every merciemercy, (a)1 Thes. 5, 18.in confessing every sin with godly sorrow, (b)1 Ioh. 1.8.in asking everie thing you want in Christs name, (c)Mat. 7.7, 8and that particularly as farre as you can, generally where you cannot in particular. (d)Phil. 4.6.Yea, and to act faith on the promise for the help of Gods spirit (e)Zach. 12.10. Luk, 11.13. Rom. 8.26.in the time of praying.
The fourth generall Direction shews what course ignorant, and unlearned Masters of Families are to take that they and their house may sincerely serve God.
FOurthly, As you are one that cannot reade, learn to reade, (if you be not one way or other disinabled) and be diligent in the use of all means to know and understand your duties afore mentioned as you are a Christian Governour of a familie; How, and for what end you are to have a Bible and a Catechisme and one that can reade in your family.For that end get a Bible and a catechisme, and one that can reade, into your house; And first of all appoint that part of the first Direction to be read unto you, that directs you how to call upon God morning and evening: causing afterward the rest of that and all the other Directions to be read unto you as you have occasion to make use of them: as also the Scriptures and this or some other catechisme as you have need thereof.
And whereas Governours of families that are learned, are advised often to reade and open the word to their people: or to repeat Sermons, and to examine them about their profiting therein: as also to catechise them in this or some other catechisme, and in, and about these Directions; Doe you in the room of this (having sought God for a blessing) appoint the word, or some part of this, or some other catechisme, How you are to appoint the word, and this, or some other Catechisme to be read unto them.or some part of the Directions that are for private Christians, as those pieces of the second branch that shews them how to call upon God, morning, noontime, and evening, and that doth direct them how to attend family duties, to be read unto your family, morning, evening or any time when you have opportunity: causing the third branch of the Directions to be read unto them the evening before the Sabbath: The fourth the evening before Fasts, or daies of Thanksgiving, and the rest of them as they have occasion to use them; This being done at any time, either examine them your self in the things that have been read unto them: How you are to examine them: or to appoint some other to Catechise them,or appoint some other to catechize them therein in such a manner as that you and they may be thereby edified; calling upon them to get their catechisme by heart, and the Directions that are for them, as they have occasion to make use thereof, and to hear and to examine one another therein as they have opportunity; concluding all such like exercises with thanksgiving to God for those private helps and the profit you receive thereby; which you may doe in your family prayer if they be immediately before your morning or evening praier.How you are to cause them that can write to take Sermons as often as they have opportunity to hear.
Require them that can write to take Sermons as they have opportunity to hear, and to repeat them the first spare time you have to attend them, demanding an account of every one after repetition, of their profiting by the word preached, or repeated; Remembring alwies to begin and end such like duties with praier and thanksgiving.
If there be none that can write in your family, How you are to improve the word in your family after you have heard it preached on the Lords day, or at any other time.then doe you on the Lords day betwixt Sermons, and afterward in the evening, and at every other time after you have heard the word preached, call upon God to help you by his spirit to remember, understand, and to profit by the word you are about to speak of; And tell them in a spirituall way what you can remember that you doe understand and beleeve, requiring them to doe likewise; And so (having talked together in a holie manner about it,) conclude the exercise with thanks to God for the means of grace in publique, and in private, and for any benefit you partake of thereby.
And if there be any in your family of your sex that are more fit and able to perform familie duties then you are, When, and upon what occasion you are to procure some other to instruct you and your family. Act. 10.3, 6.Then procure them sometimes to perform them in your stead. In the mean while untill you have a Bible, a catechisme, and one that can reade in your house, (and afterward as you see it needfull) procure your Minister, or some officer of the Church, or some neighbour Christian to come to your house once or twice a week for to instruct you and your family in the mysteries of the Kingdome of heaven: Or go to them to be taught and instructed by them the things that may make you wise unto salvation; However ignorant and unskilfull you be for the present in the word of righteousnesse, Yet I doubt not but that you will be soon taught of God (if there be a willing minde in you to learn) how you and your house should serve God in holinesse and righteousnesse all your daies; yea, and enabled through Christ thereunto, as you are instructed therein.
But you may object and say, What if I cannot pray in my family through the weaknesse of my memory, An Object.want of boldnes, utterance, or the like, either by these Directions or any other rules that have been commended unto me?
The Answer to it.I answer, You ought to call upon God in your family, if there be any to join with you; And you may sooner and easier learn to pray (I mean thtough the help of the spirit) by these Directions I have given you: than by forms of praier got by heart (as some weak Christians have) as they are read unto you; And having learned them you may be enabled by the practice of them to pray more understandingly, spiritually, and sincerely, than you can by any formes of praier when you have them in your memory. For your further satisfaction herein let the latter end of the fift branch of the first part of the Directions, and of the third branch of the second part of the Directions be read unto you about objections and answers of the like nature.
When you are to procure another to perform family duties for you. Act. 10.5, 6.And if you finde your self for the present altogether unfit for family exercises notwithstanding these Directions and your endeavours to make use of them, then speak to your Minister or to some of the congregation, whereof you are a member to help you with one that may instruct your familie, and pray with them untill the Lord put you into a fitnes (I mean through your endeavours) for the performance of these duties your self.
The fifth generall Direction shews how Governesses of Families, whether Widdows, Wives, or Maids are to Worship God in their Families.
FIfthly, How Widdows as Governesses are to procure some to serve God with all their house: or else to worship God with those of their own sex.As you are a Widdow and a Governesse of a family, whether learned or unlearned, you are bound in conscience (as much as a Governour of a families is, because you are as it were both Governour and Governesse, to make it your care that you and your house may sincerely serve God; And therefore you ought either to procure some friend to perform those duties with all your house that Masters of families are advised unto … or else to learn those duties of Governours of families about their praying with, and their instructing of their people, that you may perform them with those of your own sex, and with all the children of the family as well male as female. (a)2 Tim. 1.5. with 2 Tim. 3.15. 1 Tim, 5.10.Behaving your self so in your Widdowhood in eschewing of pleasure, idlenesse, tatling, pragmaticalnesse, and corrupt communication: in trusting of God, in continuing in supplications and praiers day and night, in bringing up of children, in lodging of strangers, in comforting of the Saints, in relieving of the afflicted: As that you may give no offence to the adversarie to speak reproachfully, (a)1 Tim. 5.3. to 11.and so as that you may be chosen by the Church, and maintained by them, if need be, for to look after the poor and sick members thereof, that are unfit and unable to look after themselves (b)1 Tim. 5.9, 10.Carrying your self so in that place (if you be called thereunto) as becomes the Gospel.
How, and when Wives as Governesses are to serve God with the woman kind of their house.And in like manner as you are a wife and a Governesse of a family, you ought in the absence and sicknesse of your husband or the like to pray (if there be no man among you that is fitted to serve God with all your house in his stead) Morning and evening with the woman-kinde of your house, and with the children thereof, and to nurture them up in the admonition of the Lord, (c)Deut. 6.7. Ephes 6.4. Prov. 31.26.For that purpose you should endeauour to know those duties of Governours of Families, Concerning their praying with, and their instructing of their people that you may be helped there, with to worship God thereafter, as you are called thereunto; Praying in a speciall manner for your husband upon all occasions of private praier: Being in subjection unto him, that if he obey not the word, he may without the word be won by your heavenly conversation, (d)1 Pet. 3.1.What duties you are to perform to God, as you are or may be a mother of children, you have been in part shewed; (e)In the first Direction about the duties that parents owe to God for their ch ldren. How Mothers are to teach their children.And remember to be diligent therein, especially in your instructing of your children, for you have a better opportunity to instruct them, then your husband hath, For you may teach them as you feed them (for they may learn from the brests) as you dresse, or undresse them, as you sit down, or walk in your way with them, as you lie down, or rise up, and it is the will of the Lord that you should so do; (f)Deu. 11.19. Pro. 31.1, 2. Pro. 6.20.And therefore (having desired God for Christs sake to teach your children by his spirit as you endeavour to instruct them by his word) speak unto them out of the Scriptures (as soon as they are able to speak unto you again) that prove the answers of the ten questions, Or such like principles as they do contain.
And tell them in holy, solemn, loving manner, as if you were telling so many severall stories) First, how the works, the word of God, and their own conscience should convince them that there is a God, Secondly, tell them at another time (for they must but have a little spoken unto them at once) (g)Isa. 28.9.10.that such and such Scriptures prove that God is a Spirit but one in essence, and three in persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: and thus go through the principles of Religion contained in the answers of the ten questions, or in any other Catechisme.
Afterward cause them to get by heart, the answer of the first question of this or any other Catechisme one week, the answer of the second question another week, and so every week one additionall answer, untill they have learned the w…ole Catechisme: This being done, appoint them to get the Scriptures by heart that prove the answers of the questions, getting one Scripture one day, and another another day, untill they have them all by heart; And as you hear them, open the Scriptures unto them so far as you assuredly know the meaning thereof; Thus your children by learning line after line, here a little and there little, may come to know the Scriptures from their childehood: as Timothy did by the instruction of his grandmother Loi…, and his mother Eunice, (h)2 Tim. 1.5 2 Tim. 3.15.And as you teach them, be so familiar with them, as that they may not be afraid to ask you the meaning of any thing they are ignorant of; And when any of them are overtaken in the sin of lying or the like, tell them of that fearfull story in the fifth of the Acts from the first unto the sixth verse, Act. 5.1. to 6.or of any story that may make them afraid of sinne.
And if any of them disobey you, tell them that it is Gods Commandement that they should obey you (i)Eph 6.1, 2and that God will curse them if they set light by you; (k)Deut. 27.16.Thus teach them not only to know but also to practise Christianitie; And if any of them will not honour you after your admonition as their mother, then do not only rebuke but correct them, for you may and ought to correct them, as soon as they may be made sensible that they have offended (l)Prov. 29.15.17.but remember that you doe it in love, How maids as Governesses of Families should serve God with these of their own Sex in the Family.and meeknes of spirit, declaring unto them your unwillingnes thereunto, if they would be such as they ought without correction.
Likewise as you are a maid and a Governnesse of a family, you should study the duties of Governours of families about praier and instruction for that end, that you may in the absence and sicknesse of the Master of the house, or the like, perform them with those of your own sex, and with all the children of the house, I mean, if there be no man in the family that can serve God with all your house in his stead.
Furthermore, How aged Christian women should be teachers of good things.As you are aged women you should be teachers of good things: (m)Tit. 2.3, 4, 5.And as you are young women you should learn of the aged women to be wise, to love your husbands, to love your children, to be discreet, chast, keepers at home, good, obedient to your own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
What shall I say more? It is meet and equall, How all Governesses of families are to use all means to further the salvation of their houshold.and the bounden dutie of all you that are Christian Governesses of families, whether Maids, Wives, or Widdows, whether young, or old, to take all the womankinde of your house (as you have opportunity) into your chambers: or to take one at one time, and another, at another time, (as suppose one, one Lords day, and another on another Sabbath) For to pray with them, and for them, and to direct them how to pray: For to instruct them for to reprove them for any presumptuous or secret sin and wantonnesse they live in: For to examine them about the work of grace in them: For to use all means with them that you might save some: And all in such a manner as becomes women professing godlinesse; It is I say, your bounden duty so to doe because it is the joint duty of every Governour and Governesse of a family to endeavour the salvation of their whole houshold; (m)Prov. 1.8.4.1, 4.31.1, 2. Deut. 6.7.And although a Father of a family be Governour over Mother, childe, and all: yet he is not so much bound in conscience to instruct all, as to see that all be instructed, How you are to call upon God▪ when you solemnly instruct or reprove any of your family.by appointing every one to doe their duties in their places. And therefore when you take all those of your own sex, or any one of them into your chamber for to teach or admonish them. Before you enter upon the exercise call upon God for a blessing upon your meeting, that it may be for the better and not for the worse, and that he thereby may be glorified, and you brought somewhat higher unto salvation; which being done, solemnly minde them of those Scriptures that prove that it is your dutie as a Christian, (n)Gal. 6.1.as a Mother of children, (o)Pro, 29 15. Prov. 31.1, 2. Prov. 1, 8. Prov. 22.6. 1 Tim. 5.10. Phil. 4.3. Deut. 6.7 20, 21. 2 Tim. 1.5. with 1 Tim. 3.15. Eph. 6.1, 2.3.5.and as a Governes of a family to teach, and reprove them, and that it is their duty to obey you therein: And tell them in a milde and compassionate mann…r that you dare not neglect your duty herein, lest the bloud of their souls should be required at your hands; And then begin and goe on in your way of teaching and admonition as you think meet, so as that all things be done to edifying; And end the exercise with thanksgiving to God for these private helps, and for any good you doe, or hope to receive thereby.