Exhortation to the Ministers of Gods Word, Text 1 (1 of 3)
A GODLIE FORME OF Household Gouernment: carefully to be practised of all Christian Householders.
A Householde is as it were a little commonwealth, by the good Gouernment whereof, Gods glorie may be aduanced, the Commonwealth which standeth of seuerall families, benefited, and all that liue in that familie receiue much comfort and commoditie.
But this gouernment of a familie is not very The rule of good Gouernment is wisedome. Pro. 24. 3. 4.common in the world, for it is not a thing that men can stumble on by chance, but Wisedome, must leade vsus vntounto it. Through wisedome (saith Salomon) is an house builded, and with vnderstanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the Chambers thereof be filled with all precious pleasant riches: that is, shall obtaine all kind of blessings. See also Pro. 28. 2. by which two… ces it is manifest, that such families as are… ordered by hap-hazard, or as it falles, but… Wisedome, Discretion and Counsell, do p… per Not carnall wisedome.in inward and outward goods, and in… long. When we speake of wisedome we do… meane that this gouernment can be in all poi… exercised by naturall reason and wisedome… mans wisedome reacheth but vntounto one poi… and that the least of that, which family-goue… ment tendeth vntounto.
But the wisedome that we speake of, is… But learned out of the word.naturall, but fetched from the fountaine of… wisedome, God himselfe: who by his Wo… giueth vntounto vsus pure light to walke by, not… the Church alone, nor in publike societie… men onelyonly, but euen within the secret of o… owne walles, and towards such as be abidi… vnderunder the same roofe. And if we desire to wa… with God as Enoch did, wee must set vp t… Gen. 5. 24. Psal. 119. 3.light for our selues to liue by at home: For th… we doe no iniquitie, when wee walke in his w… Where no wisedome is vsed in gouerning f… milies, Wisedome is great wealth. Without wisedome whatsoeuer a man taketh in hand, turneth to his owne hurt.there all goeth to wrack, and there man enormities are to be found, as wofull breach… betweene man and wife, gracelesnesse and vnthriftinesse of children, lewdnes of seruants, an… foule scapes. And where carnall policie ruleth and not the wisedome which is from about there al that is done tendeth to the ease, pleasur… and profit of this life, wherein it is fitter for bruit beasts, then for men to seeke their felicitie.
Now that there is a good kind of gouerning of a familie, which they who follow wisely, may be said to gouerne well, appeareth out of the first Epistle to Timothie 3. verse. 4. 5. One that guideth his house well, &c. and after, Hee that knoweth not to gouerne his owne house, &c. Wherby It is out of doubt that the wise and skilful gouernment of a house is foūd out by Prudence, defended by Science, and conserued by Experience.it is euident, that there is a way of ordering the family aright, and there is no misgouerning of it.
To set downe this good gouernment exactly, is a hard matter. Here onelyonly wee will note some things which do appertaine vntounto that gouernment which we speake of. And to doe it more orderly, that it may be the better vnderstood, we must consider, that (as may also be gathered out of that place of Timothie) there are two sorts in eueryevery perfect familie.
1. The Gouernours.
2. Those that must be ruled.
And these two sorts hauehave speciall duties belonging Whereof a family consistet…to them, the one towards the other. In the carefull performance whereof, from the one to the other, consisteth the good gouernment of a familie.
The gouernours of a family, be such as hauehave The first sort are such as hau authoritie in the familie.authoritie in the familie by Gods ordinance, as the father and mother, master and mistresse.
To whom, as God hath giuen authoritie ouer their children and seruants, so hee wou… Who must vse their authoritie. If the gouernour be charged with weightie affaires, he may appoint one to gouerne his house, as Abraham, and Potiphar did. Gen. 24. 2. and Gen. 39. 4.hauehave them to vse it to the wise gouernment them, not onelyonly for their owne priuate prof… credit, or pleasure, but also for the good of tho… whom they are to gouerne: for by a wise g… uernment, much good commeth to the parti… gouerned. If masters then or parents doe n… gouerne, but let seruants and children doe… they list, they do not onelyonly disobey God, an… disaduantage themselues, but also hurt tho… whom they should rule: for when any ha… such libertie to doe as they list, it maketh the… grow out of order, to the prouoking of God displeasure, and curse against themselues, whe… as if they had beene held in by the bridle… Gouernment, they might be brought to walke… the blessing of God should follow them in thei… so as courses.
All gouernment of a familie must be i… A propertie of good gouernment. 1. Tim. 3. 7.comelinesse or decencie, that is, it must be suc… as is meete and conuenient both for the gouernour, and for the person gouerned. And therefore it is impossible for a man to vnderstand how to gouerne the common-wealth, that doth not know to rule his owne house, or order his owne person, so that he that knoweth not to gouerne, deserueth not to raigne.
Lordlinesse is vnmeete in a household gouernment, and yet familiaritie with such as are vnderunder gouernment, breedeth contempt. Againe …or the persons gouerned, all in the Familie are …ot to be gouerned alike.
There is one rule to gouerne the wife by, an…ther for children, another for seruants. One rule …or young ones, another for old folkes.
The gouernment of a Familie tendeth vntounto The markes that family gouernment aimeth at.…wo things specially. First, Christian holinesse, …nd secondly, the things of this life. By the …rst, God is glorified; by the second this present …e is sustained, in such sort as God seeth good …r vsus.
Howsoeuer, where humane policie is the …le of household Gouernment, there men only …ue an eye to the things of this life: yet they …hich fetch their wisedome to rule by out of …e word, shall vnderstand that their gouern…ent must not onelyonly be ciuill, but godly also: …at is, they must seeke to hauehave Holinesse found … their habitation, whereby God may be glori…d, as well as riches gotten, that they may be …mforted. This hath beene the course of holy …n in former ages.
Abraham flitted often from place to place, Gen. 12. 7. 8. & 13. 18. & 11 33. & 22. 9.he built an Altar wheresoeuer hee became; …, and trained vp his familie in the feare of …d. Hee did not seeke excuse in his vnsetled …te, to let passe the care of holinesse. Holy was not contented to worshippe God him…e alone, Iob. 1. 5but sanctified his sonnes, that is, pre…ed them to worship God with him, Iacob at his returne from Padam-Aram purged familie, and set vp Gods worship there.… Iosu. 24. 15.saith, though others should forsake the L… yet hee and his familie would cleaue vntounto… and serue him. The vertuous woman openet… Pro. 31. 26. &c.mouth in wisedome, and teacheth merciemercy vnt… seruants. Many of the faithfull, when they t… selues belieued in Christ laboured to bring… families to the faith also. Parents also Act. 10. & 16. 14. 15.commaunded to bring vp their children in instruction and information of the Lord. B… which places it is euident, that Religion… Ephe. 6. 4.be stirring in Christian families, and that g… gouernment looketh to bring godly behau… into families, as well as thrift and good hus… drie.
For want of this care, many parents… their children faire faces, and foule mindes;… per bodies, and deformed soules: full cof… and emptie hearts: for want of this, God… dwell in Churches if he will, but he hath… bode allowed him in priuate families. For God be where he may not rule, but must b… vnderling and stand & looke on, when profit… and pleasure shall be serued, and aloft?… the Spirit of God saith, that God will… 1. Iohn. 3. 24. & 4. 12. 13.and dwell with them that louelove him, and k… his commaundements. Where therefore… nesse is not sought for in families, there… hath no friends, nor louers, nor walkers… him, howsoeuer they will sometime come visit him in the Church.
Besides, the ill successe that such walkers hauehave, who make their houses temples to Mammon and riches, should teach vsus to hauehave a principall respect to God in christianitie, ruling our Math. 6. 24.houses. Many thriue not, but put that which they get into a bottomles, bagge. For God who hath none or the lowest regard in their courses, and household affaires, withholdeth his blessings Hag. 1. 6. Psal. 127. 2.from them: and then in vaine doe men rise early, and goe late to bed, and eate the bread of carefulnesse. Others thriue, but it is a wofull thrift, that serueth to harden the heart, and to bewitch the soule with louelove and liking of this world. For Gods iust iudgement is vponupon may this way; because they will needes serue their owne commoditie chiefely at home, the Lord giuing them vp to themselues, they neuer serue him but coldly and for custome sake at the Church: and God accepteth no more of their worship they doe there, then they doe louelove and like of his gouernment in their houses.
The gouernours of families, if (as it is in mariage) The sorts of gouernours. Householders or housekeepers are persons authorized ouer their households and charges.there be more then one vponupon whom the charge of gouernment lyeth, though vnequally, are, first the Chiefe gouernour, which is the Husband, secondly a fellow helper, which is the Wife.
These both do owe duties to their familie and dutie one to another.
The duties they owe to their Familie, bot… The dutie of the husband touching holinesse which he must performe to them. … To see that they hauehave the word ordinarily, the want whereof, is the greatest plague that can be. Amos. 8. 11. Math. 9. 36. 37. Esa. 32. 1. 2. 3. 4. Rom. 10. 14. Iam. 1. 18. 19. 21 1 Pet. 2. 2. Heb. 2. 1. Ephe. 4. 11. 12.concerning godlinesse, and the things of thi… life, belong either to the husband especially,… to the wife especially. The duties that belong t… the husband touching holinesse, are such as eyther
he must
1. Performe to them of his familie.
2, Or require of them.
The duties which he must performe to them… are; first, touching the publike ministery of th… word, to prouide that they may liue vnderunder a… ordinarie ministerie of the word, or else to tak… order, that alwayes vponupon the Sabbath, and at… ther times when it may be, they resort to su… places where they may hauehave the word ministr… vntounto them: for else how shall they be broug… into the sheepefold of God (from which nat… rally they go astray) but by hearing the voyce… the chiefe shepheard, speaking vntounto them b… those whom he sendeth? how shall they belieu… and so be begotten againe by the seede of th… word, except they heare such as God sendeth f… the begetting of men vntounto him? how shall the… Iam. 1. 21.be reconciled vntounto God, but by hearing h… messengers, into whose mouthes he hath put th… word of reconciliation? how shall they gro… in faith, and increase in grace, but by receiuin… with meeknesse the ingrafted word, which able to saue their soules.
Seeing then the word preached, is the mean… to beget men to a new life, and to nourish them in it: a great dutie lieth vponupon the gouernours of families, to prouide by some meanes that they may hauehave it. For where the word is not preached, there the Lords Sabbath cannot be hallowed as it ought.
Now the Lord would not onelyonly hauehave Masters of families to keep holy the sabbath themselues, in all the parts of his worship, publike and All superiours ought to be carefull that their inferiors doe keepe holy that day, as well as themselues.priuate, but also that eueryevery one should in his seuerall place and roome, carefully take order that so many as be committed to his charge, should sanctifie the Lords day as well as himselfe: which though it be true in all other commandements, (namely that whatsoeuer we are bound to doe our selues, we must be meanes to further other in doing the same, because the louelove of God and of our neighbour spreadeth it selfe ouer all the commandements: and therefore though it be not expressed, it is necessarilie vnderstood) yet in the fourth commandement, it is so much the more required, because besides the analogie and proportion betweene it and the other commandements which doth inforce it, the very words themselues doe bind vsus therevnto. For when it is said, Thou and thy sonne, and thy daughter, thy man-seruant, and thy maide: though it speaketh by name onelyonly of resting vponupon the Sabbath, yet because the end of that is, that the day might be sanctified, looke how many reasons there be to bind the infe… ours to rest, and the superiours to prouide th… they do so indeed, so many are there to comp… them to sanctifie the day in their owne perso… and in so many as belong vntounto them. The… fore when first of all it is generally said in t… fourth commaundement, Remember the Sabba… Deut. 5. 12: 14. 15.day, that thou keepe it holy: and afterwards, T… seuenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy G… that is, which must be dedicated vntounto his serui… and in the end you must therefore rest, that y… might serue him in it as he requireth: and th… nameth the seuerall parties that should rest:… meaning is, to declare the right end of th… resting, and so speaking by name to the gou… nours, saith: Thou, and thy sonne, and thy daught… thy man seruant, and the maid, the stranger tha… within thy gates, to shew vntounto them, that it… not sufficient for them to looke that th… vnderunder their gouernment should rest, vnlesse th… sanctifie the day of rest also, which they m… be so much carefull of, by how much the san… fication of the day is greater, then the ceas… to worke vponupon it, as the end whereunto this but referred: and therefore if it be a sinne in the at any time, not to hauehave a sufficient regard vn… them, that they do not worke, then it must nee… be a greater sinne, if that through their neg… gence they doe not sanctifie and keepe holy th… day of rest.
So that heere the Lord God requireth, that in all places there should be such good lawes publikely in the Common-wealth, and priuately They ought not to leaue it to their discretion as a thing indifferent, but to compell them thereunto.in mens houses established, and diligently executed, as thereby not onelyonly the rulers, but also all in subiection should be compelled to sanctifie the Lords day, and that they should be sure they doe it indeed. And as hee must not leaue it indifferent to them, to choose whether they will worke or rest, and so thinke it sufficient that they doe not lay any worke vponupon them, so it is not inough that they hinder them not from seruing God vponupon that day, vnlesse they procure all the meanes vntounto them, whereby God might be worshipped of them, and see that they worship God in them, as well as themselues. Therefore the masters of families must prouide as much as lieth in them, that the word be publikely preached where they dwell, not for themselues alone, but for their children and seruants sake, that they might keepe holy the day together with them: and they must not onelyonly come themselues to the place of common praier and diuine seruice, but bring these also with them, and spend the rest of the day in all priuate godly exercises themselues, and cause others to doe so also.
And here, least this might seeme too heauie vntounto vsus, and that it might not be grieuous to take so great a charge vponupon vsus, wee must remember, that as we hauehave great help by ou… feriours in many things, so the Lord would… vsus to helpe them in the chiefe and princip… and as he hath made them our seruants, so should make them his seruants: and when hauehave serued vsus sixe daies, wee might cause… to serue him vponupon the seauenth: and as the… hath preferred vsus aboue them with their… uice, so hee would humble vsus with this ch… and care ouer them, or rather exalt vsus, in th… would hauehave vsus to be as it were the ouersee… his worke, and not onelyonly serue him our se… but also see his seruice done by others com… ted to our charge: which if ye doe not, wh… shall the Christian gouernours of househ… differ from the infidels and heathen, and… greater thing shall wee doe for our seru… then they? Nay, what shall wee doe more… them then for the bruit beasts and cattell worke vnderunder vsus, to whom we giuegive rest and from labour vponupon the Sabbath, if we cause… not to sanctifie the day of rest, in which… shall differ from all other, not onelyonly beasts men.
And this is the meaning of that Law w… Deut. 11. 10. So hauehave the seruants of God done in times past in their seuerall families.Moses gaue to the Israelites, Comman… them to write the word of God vponupon the post… their houses, and vponupon their gates. Whereb… vnderunder gouernment, were taught what sh… be required of them so long as they liue… those houses, namely, to serue God: and all gouernours were taught, what especially to looke after in all them that went in and out of their gates, and liued vnderunder the roofe of their houses, euen to serue the Lord in all parts of his worship, for which end hee hath giuen them such authoritie ouer them. According to which commandement, the worthie Captaine of Gods people Iehoshuah, made this protestation before all the Elders of Israel a little before his death, exhorting them to doe the like: I and Iosh. 24. 15.mine house will serue the Lord, promising not onelyonly for himselfe, but for all his, which though it was too hard to doe, yet because he knew how many meanes the Lord had giuen him to bring it to passe, which also God would blesse (as all godly exhortations, admonitions, and chastisements, whereby if they did not profit, hee had authoritie to thrust them out of his house, and to rid himselfe of them all, which hee was purposed to put in practise) therefore he was bold thus to speake of himselfe, thereby shewing what all men should propound to themselues, and may attaine vntounto. The like whereof Dauid speaketh of himselfe, in that worthie Psalme. 101. which is left as a patterne for all Christian gouernours to rule by: wherein hee sheweth, how hee would rule not onelyonly himselfe, but his household, nay the whole Kingdome, by hauing an eie to them that were good, to reward them, and to them that were… to punish them: that so not onelyonly himselfe, all his might serue the Lord. After the s… manner in the time of the Captiuitie, when noble Queene Hester willed all the dispe… Iews to keep holy three daies together in fast and prayer, that so they might intreat the L… to deliuer them from that finall destruction… vtter ruine which Haman the cursed Am… kite and sworne enemie of Gods people… determined to bring vponupon them speedily, s… said, That shee and her maids would doe the… Hest. 4. 16. Whereby no doubt, she insinu… vntounto them, that in euerie household, her m… ning was, that it should be thorowly kept… all sides, not onelyonly of the rulers, and fo… few, but of all others, euen vntounto the maid-s… uants.
Now, the Sabbath, and the day of Fast… both of one nature, as the word doth sufficie… beare witnesse. Therefore if this hath beene… practise of the Church vponupon that day to fast… not the chiefe alone, but their families als… then must wee needes be perswaded,… vponupon the Lords day we ought our selues,… our households to serue the Lord, and to… with Ioshua, I and mine house will serue the Lo… and with Hester, I and my seruants will doe… like.
And how could that hauehave beene verified he religious Captaine Cornelius, which is writ…en of him, that hee was a deuout man, and one Act. 10. 1.…hat feared God with all his household, vnlesse …e had not onelyonly frequented the common as…emblies vponupon the Sabbath daies, but had also equainted his seruants therewith? Therefore …s the Lord himselfe speaketh of Abraham, …ho is the father of all beleeuers, I know that Gen, 18. 10.…e will commaund his Sonnes, and his household …fter him: that they keepe the way of the Lord, to …oe righteousnesse and iudgement, that the Lord …ay bring vponupon Abraham, that hee hath spoken vntounto him: So it must be practised of all them, …hat will be the children of this faithfull Abraham, and enioy the same promise that hee and his posteritie did, euen that they cause their children and their seruants, to keepe holy the Sabbath, wherein consisteth the true worship of the Lord, that so they might walke in that way, which hath the promises of this life, and the life …o come.
So then it may most euidently appeare, …oth by the wordes of the commaundement, and by the practise of the best men in the old and new Testament, that this dutie is …aid vponupon all householders, diligently to ouersee the waies of their families, that they serue God, as in all other duties, so especially in sanctifying the Sabbath, as they will answere to the contrarie at their perill, to him that hath put them in authoritie, and as they will giuegive… count for their soules, which otherwise… perish through their default.
Which though it be so strictly requi… But in our time, it is for the most part, wholy neglected.all men, and vnderunder so great a paine laide… them, yet it is so generally neglected of the… test part, that wee may rather complain… iustly with griefe, then hauehave any hope o… speedie reformation of it. For besides… great many hauehave no care to sanctifie th… themselues, and therefore cannot with any science require it of their seruants and chil… but either set them to worke, or play, a… doe any thing vponupon that day, sauing that… they should, and doe encourage them the to by their owne ill example and words: be others also, who though they seeme to some care to keepe holy the day themse… (and hauehave in deed) yet either through i… rance, or negligence, do not once looke to household, whether they come to Churc… no, and sit there attentiuely, and continue with profit to the ending, nor how they s… the rest of the day: but being demanded w… their seruants were, how chance they came… to Church, &c. they answere securelie, (an… they thinke sufficientlie) as though it we thing meerely impertinent vntounto them, that… cannot tell, they doe not hinder them f… the Church, they may come if they will,… of age to looke to themselues, and they are boyes now, and I cannot tell what, &c.
But they must consider, besides that which … beene alreadie spoken concerning this mat… that they doe too foolishly and grosly ima…e to stope (as it were) the mouth of the Lord, …h that simple answere in his busines, which …y will not receiue at their seruants hands in …ir owne. For in the sixe daies, when their …ants are in their owne busines, they will not them come and goe at their owne pleasure, I content themselues with a bare imagina… that they be at their workes, but will be …e of it, and therefore set them to it, look vponupon …m in the doing of it, and call them to an ac…nt for it, which if it be well done in them…es, because they know otherwise they will negligent, how must it then not needs be a at vnkindnesse and vnthankfulnesse in them …o God, that vponupon this day (which is but one …ong seauen) his seruice should be so slender-…ooked vntounto, that there is no such diligence …d towards their seruants, that they might per…me it?
And how must it not needes be a great iniu… to their seruants, (who are naturally and the most part more negligent and carelesse Gods seruice, by reason of their corruption, …n they can be in the seruice of men) to be …riued of that benefit of their gouernours (which is the chiefest, and for which cause… cially they are committed to their go… ment) namely, to be furthered by them seruice of God: but vse them more like then men, euen that they might be serui… vntounto them, and then care not whether they God or the diuell.
Wee know that seruants looke to be p… red by their masters (and so there is goo… son when they hauehave serued them faithfully what kind of reward is this, when h… bestowed some earthly benefit vponupon… by hauing no care to make them seru… Lord, and sanctifie his Sabbaths, they doe i… end not onelyonly make them lose the euerla… reward, but preserue them to eternall de… ction?
Moreouer, there are a companie of idle… uing-men, who in spending their time a… Especially in great householdes, where there are many seruants.sixe dayes hauing almost nothing therein to are seldome looked vntounto vponupon the sea… day, but permitted to bestow it as vainely: other: and as they neuer almost doe any daies worke to their masters, so much lesse they spend any Sabbath in the Lords ser… but they especially are left to goe and co… their will.
Others that hauehave any office of great ch… and attendance (as the Cookes, Butlers, such like, in great houses) seldome or n… …ome to the Church, and that but by pieces, ei…her when halfe is done: or else they are ready …o depart before halfe be ended, and so both hinder the Lord from that seruice which he should hauehave by them, and themselues from that blessing which they should inherit that way: and both cause the name of God to be ill spoken of, and …pul vponupon themselues and their masters that curse which belongeth to the continuall polluting of the Sabbath.
And how can they looke that that seruice and that meate and drinke should doe them good, which is thus prepared, and bought (as it were) with the continuall danger of the soules of their seruants, besides the dishonour of the name of God.
When Dauid had inconsiderately desired to drinke of the water of Bethleem, three mighty men brake into the host of the Philistims, and drew water, and brought it to him: but hee would not drinke thereof, but powred it for an offering to the Lord, and said: Oh Lord, be it farre from me that I should doe thus: is not this 2. Sam. 23. 15. 16.the bloud of the men that went in ieopardy of their liues? How much lesse then ought men to eate and drinke that for which their seruants doe venter the liues of their soules? And besides, if wee iustly finde fault with them, who doe neuer or seldome preach to the people committed to their charge, and so cause their soules to starue and die eternally: how can th… blameles, who seldome or neuer bring the… uants to the preaching of the word? And… they not needes be culpable of the same i… ment before God, seeing it is all one wit… seruants, whether they liue in the places w… the word of God is not preached at all: o… be, yet they come not vntounto it.
But whereas men are ready to obiect, th… Obiection. a great Familie, many must needes be absen…
We grant it to be true, in some part, th… Answere. at some time, and vponupon some occasion: but s… dinarily and so continually (as they themse… in their own consciences are priuie to who… this obiection) we know no necssitie that… excuse that. Nay, we are sure that the Lord… laid no such calling vponupon any man, that sh… keepe him in a continual breach of the Sabb… and therefore both maister and seruant may… pect, that hee is in such a calling as is not ag… able to Gods word, or that hee vseth it no… right, when it maketh him if not wholy, ye… the most part, to neglect the seruice of God… on the Sabbath day.
And wee know (where there is great… to serue and please God by prayer,) the Lo… will giuegive to them such wisedome, that th… shall be able to redeeme, if not the whole,… at least a great part of the day, which other… will be misspent: namely, by letting passe m… needlesse things, by preparing so much before …s conueniently may be, by rising so much the …ore early in the morning, and by the inter…hangeable helpe of other seruants: especially …hen they will for these causes be contented …ith so much the lesse, though not in quantitie … for the reliefe of others) yet with lesse exqui…ite and curious dressing, which especially ta…eth vp the time: and so we are sure, and they …at will trie it in the feare of God, and with … care to serue him, and in a louelove to the soules …f their brethren, shall finde it to be true by ex…erience, that many might keepe holy the Sab…ath, which now do it not at all: others might …eepe it more then they doe. Which if yet it be …ought vnpossible (because we go not about to …ractise it) let vsus but obserue that which we shal …e done in the house when the seruant is very …esirous to goe to a Faire, and the master is as …illing to let him goe; you would wonder to …e how things shall be dispatched vp sodainly, …d in good order; they shall be absent many …ures, and yet not greatly missed: if any thing …e otherwise then is vsuall, it is borne with be…use it is a day of prouision for themselues, and …at day is not eueryevery day. So then, if the masters …ere perswaded of the Lords day, as they ought … be, euen that it is the time of making prouisi…n for the soule, and were as carefull for the …ules of their seruants, as they are for their bo…es, and did esteeme it more for their worship and credite that their seruants were religi… then that they were costly, and well set ou… apparell; they would be better contented spare them, during the time of that Ma… where they may buy without money all graces of Gods Spirit, and the riches of Kingdome of heauen: whereby they should only saue their owne soules, but be made m… fit to doe duties to their masters of conscie…
Therefore (to end this point) it is the… tie The gouernours of families should take order that their whole household might come to Church together.of all houshold gouernours to cause whole family to be in a readines to attend v… them to and fro the Church, and that it be… left at eueryevery mans discretion to come when will, but that they should goe together. An… deed this hath beene the orderly commin… Gods people in times past to the place of worship, that they hauehave not come scattered… alone, but many together, and by compani… whereof the Prophet speaketh, When I rem… bred Psal. 42. 4.these things, I powred out my very heart,… cause I had gone with the multitude, and led t… into the house of God, with the voyce of singing, praise, as a multitude that keepeth a feast. … which place, the man of God complaini… that he was banished from the holy assembl… saith, that his griefe was increased by reme… bring his former estate, when he vsed to go… a great company to the Temple, euen as… feast: whereby he declareth what was the n… uer of their going; euen as men go to a mar… or to a feast, not only with ioy, but also by companies, and so many of one house as go, will go together: so they did not only go to the house of God cheerefully, but many of them together, euen as to the market, and feast of their soules. By which practise of theirs as the doing of many is condemned, so it appeareth that the men of our time are led by another spirit then they were, and are otherwise perswaded of the worship and place they go vntounto: for all the people, nay, the seuerall housholds come not together, but scattered, and one dropping after another, in a confused manner.
First, comes the man, then a quarter of an houre after, his wife, and after her, wee cannot tell how long especially the mayd seruants, who must needs be as long after her, as the men seruants are after him. Whereby it commeth to passe, that either half the seruice of God is done, before all be met: or else if the Minister tary till there be a sufficient congregation, the first commers may be weary, and sometimes colde with tarying, before the other shall be warme in their seates.
Now if it be demanded of then masters why they alone make such haste, and leaue al the rest behind them; & they answere, truly because the time is come, wherein vsually publike praier beginneth: can they be perswaded that it is time for themselues to come (as it is indeed) and yet no time for the rest to come with them? Hath the master no longer time to tarie, and hau… his seruants time to tarie so long after him?… though there were one Law for him, and another for them: or rather, that the same Law o… the Sabbath, which moueth him of conscience… doe that which he doth, did not as forcibly bin… them all, as himselfe: nay, did not binde him t… looke to them, that they should keep holy the day, as well as himselfe. Which if he grant to b… true & yet is not able to bring it to passe (whe… the Lord hath giuen him so great authority fo… his owne sake) partly through the frowardness… of his wife, and partly through the obstinaci… of the rest in the familie: his case is to be pitied and he is rather to be gouerned, then to gouern… and he might doe well to set vp one of them in h… …, Cor. 6. 4.stead, seeing hee doth suffer himselfe wilfully… to be abused, and is contented to be ouer-rule by them in the chiefest thing.
Therefore that he might bring this matte… happily to passe, as he must goe before them b… his owne example, and be readie betimes, eue… first of all, so he must earnestly call vponupon the… for this dutie, and exhort them vntounto it; and th… flower that they are, and the more they dra… backe, the more forward must he be, and by hi… practise and words draw them forwards also For this is that readinesse which Dauid obse… ued in the people of his time: I reioyced wh… Psal. 122. 1.they said vntounto me, we will goe into the house of t… Lord: or let vsus goe into the house of the Lord, (f… they are words of exhorting, and encouraging one another thereunto.) Euen as the Prophet Esay also foretelleth, that this shall be the zeale of Gods people in the time of the Gospell, that they shall goe together to serue God, and therefore call vponupon one another for the same purpose, saying: It shall be in the last dayes, that the Mountaine of the house of the Lord shall be prepared Esay. 2. 2. 3.in the top of the Mountaines, and shall be exalted aboue the hills, and all nations shall flow vntounto it, and many people shall goe and say: Come, and let vsus goe vp to the mountaine of the Lord, to the house of the God of Iacob.
And truely this want of zeale in vsus to Gods worship, and louelove to the saluation of our brethren (bewraying it selfe in the neglect of this dutie of calling vponupon one another) is the cause of this slownesse. For the husband going first out of the dotes saith to his Wife, make haste, and come assoone as you can: she comming at her leisure giues the same charge to her seruants, dispatch, and tarie not long behind; but here is no saying: Come let vsus goe, let vsus goe together, and if it be once said, it is not pursued, that it might be performed.
In going to market, and to a feast, what earnest calling will there be vponupon one another: and it would seeme strange to behold the household goe deuided, and it were a thing that would much be marked, and eueryevery one that knew vsus-and whither we were going, it should be the first question they would aske vsus: how chanceth this, that you come alone? where is your husband, your wife, or your children? why come you not together? So no doubt, the dispersed and broken comming of households to the Church is a thing greatly obserued of the Lord God, and of his Angels, which are present at their assemblies: and it is that which grieueth Cor. 11. 10.the rest of the Church, & as soon as they see one come in alone, they are ready with griefe to aske, where are the rest? what meaneth this partie to come alone? Therefore let all gouernours be perswaded, that it is their bounden duetie thus to looke to their families, & to be sure that they sanctifie the Lords day, as wel as themselues: & that they not only thus bring them to the publike ministerie, but also looke vntounto them, that they spend the rest of the day in holy exercises, so much as may be: examining them in that which they hauehave heard, and causing them to confer about it themselues, and to appoint some to read the scripture vntounto them, and all of them to sing Psalmes: and generally, whatsoeuer they hauehave seene before, that they ought to do themselues, to call vponupon their seruants for the same, and to take such order, that they be sure they doe it: and let them be sorie, that they hauehave neglected this dutie so long heretofore, & thereby hauehave charged so many sinnes of their houshold vponupon themselues: and now at the last in Gods holy feare, let them begin to put this in practise, least they doe further prouoke the most patient Lord, to their endles destruction. And, though it be a thing so rare in the world, as it is, & men altogether so vnacqainted with it, as they be, nay, so loathsome & tedious to flesh and blood, that they are afraid once to begin with it: yet let the bare commandment of God preuaile more with vsus to take in hand, and to continue in it, then all that can be said or thought against it should weigh with vsus, either to keepe vsus from it at the first, or afterwards cause vsus to giuegive it ouer. And, that all men might do it so much the The want of this care in household, is the cause of much wickednesse, rebellion, and disorder in their families.rather, let them be assured that the want of this especially, is the cause of so many wicked and rebellious children, vntrustie and disobedient seruants, nay, vnfaithful and vnkind wiues eueryevery where: euen for that their husbands, their fathers, and their masters, do not call vponupon them to serue God, and see them sanctifie the Sabbath. It is a common and iust complaint in all places, in the mouth of eueryevery man, that seruants and children will not be ruled, that they cannot tell where to finde a good seruant, they know not whom to trust, but they see not the greatest cause of it to be in themselues, and so go not about to remedy it. For whiles they labor not to make their children the sons and daughters of God by adoption, and to bring their seruants within the houshold of God, that they might be his seruants by grace, and to make their wiues the chaste spouses of Iesus Christ, and so all of them to serue him: the Lord i… punisheth them, making wiues, children, se… and all disobedient vntounto them. For how ca… do duties vntounto men, if they hauehave not learn… doe duties vntounto God, and so of conscienc… Gods sake to do duties vntounto men? Nay, not the Lord needs punish them with dis… dience against themselues, that by their… experience they might know how grieuo… neglect of his seruice is vntounto himselfe, whe… iustly measureth out vntounto them with the… measure, that they hauehave met vntounto him bef…
And whereas men are readie to ima… Obiection. and we know it is that which many doe o… against this, that to deale so straightly… their household were the next way to rid… selues of all good seruants, and that then… might soone be master and man themse… They must againe on the contrarie vnders… Answere. that it is a great wickednesse in them on… think that the Lord should require that of… which would necessarily driue them to suc… conueniences: nay rather they must be assur… perswaded, that godlinesse hath the promi… 1. Tim. 4. 8.this life, as well as of the life to come: and t… we first seeke the kingdome of God and his ri… ousnes, Mat. 6. 23.in our selues, and others, all needfull t… shall be cast vntounto vsus. Euen as it is said of … ham, I know that he will command his sonne… Gen. 18. 19.his household after him, that they keepe the… of the Lord, to doe righteousnesse and iudge… that the Lord may bring vponupon Abraham, that he hath spoken vntounto him. So that thus to doe, is the very high way, not to keepe vsus from, but to bring vsus vntounto the fruition of all Gods promises, if we giuegive credit vntounto him, who as he only maketh them in the beginning of meere merciemercy, so must hee onelyonly accomplish them in the end by his constant veritie and truth. We confesse indeed, if hee be an ill seruant, this is the readiest way to be rid of him, whose roome is better then his company: for hee thinketh himselfe to be in a prison, nay in hell all the while: but in the end he shall perceiue that hee is gone from the way of Heauen vntounto hell, if the Lord be not more mercifull vntounto him. And why should we be loth to depart from the seruice of them, that hauehave no care to serue God? or can we looke that they should doe any faithfull seruice vntounto vsus, that are so vnfaithfull in the seruice of God?
But as concerning the rest, if any be religious, this is the best meane to retaine and keepe To hauehave such good orders in our houses, is not the next way to driue away our seruants from vsus.…hem: if they be but indifferent, this may winne …hem: if they be falling away, this may recouer …hem. For what shall we thinke of all the godly …athers in times past, that when they vowed di…igently to looke to their households, that they …hould serue God with them, and did constant…y performe it, that then they had no seruants at all? Was so great a man as Iehoshua without seruants, when hee promised before so many witnesses, that he and his house would serue… Lord? Was Dauid left alone, and constrained doe all himselfe, when as being a mightie Ki… he bound himselfe vntounto it by that song wh… he made for the same purpose, wherein he sai… Mine eyes shall be vntounto the faithfull of the la… Psal. 101. 9. 7.that they may dwell with me: he that walketh a perfect way, he shall serue me: there shall no… ceitfull person dwell in mine house: he that tell… lyes shall not remaine in my sight? Had not Ab… ham Gen. 14. 14.a great household, when hee was able of… sodaine to carie forth with him, of them that w… borne and brought vp in his house, three hund… and eighteene men in armour, to rescue his brot… Lot? Of whom notwithstanding, it is said, that would teach his household the way of the Lord… it appeareth he did indeed, when by his on… perswasion at the word of God, all the ma… Chap. 17. 12.were contented to be circumcised, and to recei… that Sacrament, vnknowne before, and painf… and also ignominious to the flesh, if they h… looked onelyonly to the outward signe. And m… not that worthy Captaine of an hundred Itali… souldiers needs hauehave a greater familie then m… ny of these that cauill at this doctrine? of who… the spirit of truth reporteth, That hee fea… Act. 10. 2.God, and all his household.