Exhortation to the Ministers of Gods Word, Text 1 (2 of 3)

Exhortation to the Ministers of Gods Word · Text 1 (2 of 3)

p. 42What shall wee thinke of all these me… Obiection. Shall we ignorantly presume to the further… ceiuing of our selues, and hardening vsus in t… sinne, that the times were then better, and go… p. 43…ruants then more plentifull? Or must wee Answere. …eedes confesse, as the truth is indeed, that these …en vsed more meanes to make their seruants …e seruants of God then men doe now a daies, …nd that so the blessing of God was greater …pon them? And is it not set downe in writing …or our learning, to shew vsus what is that which …e might looke for at Gods hands, if we would …alke in the same way that they did, seeing there … no respect of persons, times, or places with …im?

Secondly, hee must set an order in his house …or the seruice of God, to wit, that morning and …uening, before meales, and after meales, pray…rs and thankes may be offered vntounto God, and …o hee acknowledged to be the authour, not …nely of all spirituall graces that belong to a bet…er life, but also of all temporall blessings that …elong to this life. For seeing that it is Gods …ood hand ouer vsus, that doth defend vsus and all …ur familie in the night from outward dangers, …nd giueth vsus freedome from feares and terrors, …nd from Sathans rage, and also giueth vsus rest …nd comfortable sleepe, for the refreshing of our …raile bodies, is it not meete wee should begge …t at his hand by prayer, before we prepare our …elues to rest, and praise him for it, when wee …ise from it? Againe, seeing that eueryevery day wee …re subiect to iunumerable dangers, which we know not of, and both wisdome and strength to follow good and honest callings, and also the p. 44blessing vponupon our labours to make vsus p… by them, are from God alone: should… begin the day with suite vntounto God for hi… ous protection, and for his mercifull bles… vsus? And seeing meates and drinks are san… vntounto vsus on Gods part by the word, an… 1. Tim. 4. 5.1 Tim 4:5by prayer: doubtlesse though God hath… word sanctified them, they are vnholy vn… when we doe not for our part sanctifie th… faithfull prayer and thanksgiuing. And t… Dauids practise. Psal. 55. 17. Euening a… ning, and at noonetide, will I pray, and make… and he will heare my voyce. If any say it is s… ent for the gouernour to charge eueryevery… his familie to doe it priuately by himself might the Prince say, it is inough to do … rius did, to charge eueryevery one in all his d… ons to worship no God, but Daniels Go… Dan. 6. 26.Dan 6:26godly Princes thought it their dutie to… the worship of God in their dominions,… take order that God might be worshipped likely and ioyntly of all in their land. So d… Iob. 1. 5. 6.Job 1:5Job 1:6for his household, not only bid his childre… to God by themselues, but he appoin… times of praying together, and sacrificing commanded his children to come pre… thereunto. Againe, if the maister lay the… vponupon the consciences of such as be of his… milie, then if they be negligent, God shal… no honour and worship in that familie.

But we reade of Abraham, that where… p. 45… became, he built an altar to God, where God Gen. 12. 7. 8. & 13. 8. & 21. 33. & 22. 9.Gen 12:7Gen 12:8Gen 13:8Gen 21:33Gen 22:9…ould be worshipped ioyntly of his familie. If …od should measure out his goodnesse to thee, … thou measurest honour and glory to him, in …hat a cause wert thou? He doth giuegive a charge his Angels to keepe thee, he commandeth …e earth to allow thee meate for thy sustenance, …d his commandement is an effectuall word, …at maketh them to do the thing that he char…th them withall. Wilt thou now onelyonly bid thy …ruant or sonne to serue and honour God, and …ot see that he doe it, and helpe him in it? Then …ou dost not measure out vntounto God, as thou …ouldest hauehave him measure to thee.

This dutie then belongeth to a christian head …f a familie, to worship God with all his fami…e, and to take order that when he shalbe absent …pon necessarie occasion, it may be done reue…ently and duly by some one in his familie, that …y reason of wit and age may be meet for it. …he neglect of this dutie letteth into families …any grieuous enormities, and outward mise…es, while God in his iustice refuseth to blesse …ch, as by their carelesnesse in seruing of him …oe shew, that they take not him to be the au…or of all wel-fare to soule or body, but thinke …o do well inough without him, or else thinke to …aue their turnes serued without requesting.

The third dutie, which the chiefe gouernour Priuate instructing.…ust performe to all in his familie, is priuate in…truction, and dealing with them in matters of p. 46religion, for the building of them vp… faith, and for the invring and bringing… to a conscience towards God, that the not onelyonly know and professe religion,… feele and shew the power of religion i… liues. This dutie hath these specials be… to it: First, a familiar and plaine openi… them the principles of religion, after t… ner of a Catechisme. This dutie the holy… layeth vponupon parents. Ephe. 6. 4. Traine t… in doctrine & holy precepts, drawn out of t… The like was commanded to parents in law: Let these words, which I command… day, be in thine heart, and whet them o… Deut. 6. 7. 8. 9.Deut 6:7Deut 6:8Deut 6:9children, and speake of them when thou s… thy house, when thou walkest in the way, w… lyest downe, & when thou risest vp, &c. So… not enough to bring thy children to be… sed at the Church, but thou must labou… them at home after a more plaine and manner of instruction, that so they may… ter profit by the publike teaching. Loo… uerbs 22. 6. Thou euen by breeding th… dren hast helped them into corruption damnable estate: how oughtest thou the… holy care and paines taken with them… ching them the knowledge of God in to help them out of it, that they may no… brands of hell? And for seruants, seein… spend their strength, & wearie out their and bestow their dayes and yeeres in s… p. 27…hy profit and ease: oughtest not thou then to …eeke the saluation of their soules? Salomon saith, …he iust man hath regard to his beast: much …ore shouldest thou hauehave regard to thy ser…ant, who is made according to the image of God with thee, and is redeemed with as deere a …rice, as thou art. And thy care for him should …ot stretch to his bodie alone, but especially to …is soule; that seeing his calling will not suffer …im to vse so many, and so many, and so often …eanes for the good of it as were requisite, hee …ight herein be helped by thee.

The second speciall is, an acquainting them Reading the scriptures.…ith the Scriptures, by reading them daily in …hy house in their hearing, and directing them …o marke, and make vse of those things which …re plaine and easie, according to their capaci…ie. So Timothie was trained vp by his parents 2. Tim. 3. 15.2 Tim 3:15… the Scriptures, so that he knew them from a …hild: that is, was made acquainted with them …y reading them, and being instructed in them …ccording to his capicitie. This shal make them …he fitter to heare and profit by the publike …inisterie: whereas the neglect of this dutie makes them vnable to heare and vnderstand he Preacher when he citeth examples, or quoeth texts out of sundry places of Scripture. The …elp that their familie might reape by it should make them carefull in this reading of the Scrip…ure.

The third is, a diligent care, and regard that p. 48they profit by the publike ministery of the w… and Sacraments, eueryevery one according to th… capacitie. And this dutie requireth, that th… should not onelyonly looke that they doe diligen… frequent the preaching of the word, and c… fully come to the Sacraments in due time, b… also that they shew them how, and put them… mind of preparing themselues to the word a… Sacraments, as Iob did his sons. They must pr… pare them to heare the word, by willing them… consider Gods ordinance, his promise, and th… owne necessitie, &c. by commanding them… lay aside all such cares, thoughts and affection as might hinder them from a diligent hearin… To the Sacraments they must prepare the… by willing them to consider of Gods institu… on, the ministerie of his Sacraments, his me… in Iesus Christ, their faith, their repentance, an… their wants: that so seeking assurance of grac… of reconciliation, and comfort, they may com… preparedly to the Lords table.

Againe, to further their profit, they must di… gently examine them, what they hauehave learne… what vse they can make of such doctrine, & al… helpe and direct them, wherein they faile. Th… Mat. 16. 15. 16. 17.Matt 16:15Matt 16:16Matt 16:17did our Sauiour Christ his disciples. Beside… they must call vponupon them for the practis… of that which they learne out of the word, tha… the word grow not to a common matter, of n… further vse but to talke of vponupon the Sabbath da…

The fourth speciall dutie that belongeth t… p. 49…se of Gods works either past, or present, as of …xamples of his merciemercy and goodnes, to be en…ouraged by them to trust in him: by works of … is iustice, to be moued to feare him, and so to …ow the seede of conscience & religion in them. …hus did Abraham, Gen. 18. 19. which care of …is moued the Lord to reueale to him his pur…ose of destroying the Sodomites.

The duties which they are to require of them …oncerning godlines, be, to vse the publike Mi…stery carefully: to be diligent and reuerent in …e priuate worship of God: to submit them…lues to priuate instruction of all sorts, and to …ake their vse of it to the building vp of them…lues in faith: and lastly, to practise all holy …d christian duties, which being comprised …iefly in the Commandements, are more …rgely layed open by the publike ministerie of …e word, and by priuate Catechising.

But after what maner must they require these …ties? We answere, not only by telling of them …hat they must doe, and calling vponupon them for …e doing of it, and by gentle admonition when …ey be backward: but also by correcting them, … they shall be negligent and contemptuous in …e practise thereof.

This correcting is either by

Rebuking, or

Chastising them,

…cording to the quality of the fault, & the con…tion of the partie, that is so to be dealth with.

p. 50A rebuke, is a pronouncing of some mi… hauiour, or knowne wickednesse of any,… Leuit. 19. 17. 2. Tim. 4. 2.Lev 19:172 Tim 4:2condemning of the same by the word of G… whereby they may hauehave shame, that o… might feare.

Correction is a sharpe thing, and there… Pro. 27. 5. and 29. 19.Prov 27:5Prov 29:19not easie borne of our nature, which is ful… selfe-louelove: and through the corruption o… ture it is turned into an occasion of great… wardnes, sturdines, and naughtines, where… not wisely dealt in. Now the better to min… correction, with more hope of doing goo… it, we must consider:

First, the end of correcting.

Secondly, the matters for which corre… must be giuen.

Thirdly, the maner of correcting.

1 The end in correction must not b… wrecke and reuenge thine anger, or malic… to reuenge thy selfe for an iniurie done, no… alonely the preuenting of the like hurt by… like fault afterward: but in zeale of God… rie who is dishonoured by the lewdnes of… offender, and in louelove to the partie, thou… seeke by wise correction to reclaime him… such euill as bringeth danger to him, a… make him more carefull of his dutie afterw… Herein they faile, who in correcting hauehave… spect, but to their owne commoditie.

2 For the matters that deserue corre… this is a rule, that there must be no rebu… p. 51much lesse chastising, but where there is a fault. For where any is vniustly corrected, besides the iniurie, it hurteth him by hardning him against iust correction. For he will thinke that it is the rash hastinesse of his gouernor that putteth him to smart, and not his owne desert.

By fault I meane, not onelyonly the committing of that which was forbidden, but also the omitting of that good which was commaunded. But eueryevery such fault is not to be censured with correction: sometime ignorance, mistaking, ouersight, and a desire to please in one thing maketh inferiours to offend in others. Except there be contempt, or willing negligence, or retchlesse ouersight, a gentle admonition may serue. And indeed, superiors must take heed of comming to the greatest remedies of correction …oo soone: for so they may soone marre the par…ie by ouer-sharpe dealing, which by a wise …roceeding by degrees might hauehave been gai…ed. Furthermore, Gouernours must know yet more expresly for what to correct. Some neuer …orrect but for their owne matters, neuer re…arding the faults committed against God. But …he godly Gouernour, that aymeth at Gods …lory, and seeketh the Lord, and not himselfe, … most grieued for those disorders in his family, …hat tend to Gods dishonour, and such he cor…ecteth most carefully. And as for the defaults of …is familie that are against himselfe, he looketh …ore to Gods dishonour by them, then to his p. 52owne hurt or losse, & in zeale of God is dr… to correct, and not of selfe-louelove. Hee there… counteth these things worthy of correctie… any delight in the ignorance of God, or be… les to approue himselfe, as one that wholy… pendeth on him, loueth him, feareth him,… renceth him, laboureth to approue all his… before him: if any be giuen to Idolatrie an… perstition, and careth not in eueryevery part o… worship of God to follow his reuealed wil… in the parts commanded he appeare negli… and colde, or put them to any other vse th… commanded, or be giuen to images, supe… ous monuments, customes, occasions, or… like: if any dishonor the name of God,… in the vnreuerent vsing, or abusing, or pe… ting, and not vsing it with that preparatio… fore, feeling at the present time, and fruit… which is prescribed, his titles, word, Sacram… or works: if any prophane his sabbath by… pastimes, & gaming, as cards, dice, dancing,… going to playes, or giuegive not himselfe to th… ercises appointed for that day out of the w… if any neglect speciall duties towards th… quals, superiors, or inferiors, in yeeres, gift… thoritie; as Magistrates, Ministers, Master… rents, seruants, children, or people: if any d… not a conscience to flie euill, anger, malice… tention, quarrelling, fighting, or any hurti… the person of man, either in soule or body,… being carefull to succour the same accordi… p. 53his calling, if any be found vnchaste in body, words, countenance, or gesture; vntemperate in diet, in apparel dissolute, not caring to maintaine the contrarie holinesse in himselfe and others: if any be not carefull to preserue the goods of another man, or shall by falshood, flatterie, and oppression diminish the same; if he be negligent in increasing of his owne, by honest and lawfull meanes, or mispend them in Cards, Dice, gaming, &c. if any care not to maintain… …he good names of others, but be giuen to vn…ecessary blasing of other mens infirmities, by …ying, slandering, back-byting, taunting: if any …hew himselfe carelesse to restraine the moti…ns and entisements vntounto sinne, and the lust of …he same: and hee will vse the meanes follow…ng to redresse them.

The manner of correcting must likewise be …ooked vntounto: for to faile in that maketh corre…tion hurtfull oftentimes, but alwaies vnauaile…ble. For this point then, we must know, that …orrection must be

Ministred in

Wisedome,

and

Patience.

Wisdome is that, by which we obserue come…nesse Ephe. 5. 14, 16, 17.Eph 5:14Eph 5:16Eph 5:17in eueryevery action; that is to say, by which …ee obserue what we doe, how, in what place, at …hat time, before whom: that all things may be …one in a conuenient place, time, and manner.

p. 54Wisdome will

1. Finde out the right p… that committed the f… that hee that is innocen… not vniustly burthened.

2. Consider of what sort… nature the fault is.

3. Weigh circumstances… ges, discretion, and oc… ons that moued the p… & whether it be custom… or a slip by ouersight.

4. Looke to the mind of… doer, whether neglige… frowardnes, or simpli… & want of wisdome bro… him to it.

And according to these things wisedome… teach a man to measure out correction, or… sparing in it. Besides, wisedome will not… rect before the fault be euident, or before sh… able to winde the offender out of all shif… holes. For when the offender is not throu… conuinced, he shifteth off the shame of the… and of the correction, which is a part of the… gation to cure his disease, and besides he wi… bold to open his mouth against his Ruler,… seeke to bring him into hatred or conte… with the rest of the inferiours, for correc… vniustly. Wisedome therefore will winke… fault a while, & make as though she saw it… that she may hauehave a fitter opportunitie to… p. 55rect: yea towards some of a good nature wisedome will shew that she seeth a fault, but yet for louelove of the partie, & desire to hauehave him amend of his owne accord, she will passe ouer the euill. Moreouer, wisedome will neuer reproch the offender by reueiling, or taunting him with the fault, but minister correction in louelove, and desire to hauehave his sore cured, and his credite salued. For the casting of faults in their teeth, and disgracing them, especially before others (which is common in the world) maketh them lay off shame of offending by little and little: whereas if they saw thee carefull of their credit, they would hauehave much more regard to it themselues. Lastly, wisedome will auoyde partialitie, and deale with all in the same case after the same manner.

Patience is also needfull, that through anger Patience is a stedfastnesse, in suffering the euils, that come to vsus by any worke, so that they cannot discourage vsus. Phil. 4. 5.Phil 4:5or hastines a man do not sight nor chide, before he hath made the fault manifest to the offender: that if it may be, his conscience may be touched for it. Againe, by patience one must heare what the offender can say in his defence, and not disdaine to heare him modestly alleadging for himselfe: and when his defence is made, by equitie to allow, or disalow the same. So did Iob, Iob. 31. 13. And Balaam had no reason to disdaine the defence of his beast, Num. 22. 30, &c.

This patience also will keepe a man from bitternesse, which might sooner make the partie angry, then draw him to amendment; which p. 56thing the Apostle would hauehave auoyded i… periours towards those that be vnderunder the… Coloss. 3. 21. Ephes. 6. 4, 9.Col 3:21Eph 6:4Eph 6:9want of this, many are but a word and a b… many first correct and then tell the fault; t… lay on loade, or raile, and reuile, braul… scolde without measure.

Lastly, this patience will keepe thee… immoderate anger, a thing dangerous in… recter. For hee that commeth to reform… too much anger, shall hardly keepe a m… in rebuking, or chastising.

Now for the seuerall kinds of correctio… first is Rebuking, which is a sharpe repro… a fault committed, measured according… nature of the fault. Fxample whereof we h… Iacob, Gen. 30. 2. Iob 2. 10. our Sauiour… to Peter, Matth. 16. 23. and to Iames and… Luk. 9. 55. So Eli, 1. Sam. 2. 23. &c. rebuk… sons, but not according to the qualitie of… fault, which turned to his, and their ruin…

This reproofe may hauehave some threatni… chastisement ioyned with it, if need be:… end to make it sincke the deeper. Prou.… Be thou very angry when thou pardo… fault, saying, that thou for sparing him… wilt punish him the sorer if he transgre… gaine: But threatnings must not be vaine… without effect, but alwaies if amendeme… low not, thou must performe what was… ned, least thou become light and vaine… offenders eyes.

p. 57Chastisement is, when with a sharpe rebuke punishment is also laid vponupon the offender, according to discretion.

If any man think fighting vnmeet for Christians, or be loth to foile their hands, lest they should get themselues an ill name; let them know, that Gods ordinance is not a matter of an ill report, but onelyonly amongst fooles, that know not what is good and meete. Now, that household chastisement is agreeable to Gods will, is euident out of the Prouerbs, where the wisedome of God doth very often commend it to vsus, as chap. 13. 24. He that spareth the rod hateth his sonne: but he that loueth him chasteneth him betimes. Where hee requireth, that it be not deferred till it be too late, that is, till the offender be hardened in ill: but giuen in time, before he be past recouerie. Secondly hee saith that it is a fruit of true and pure louelove, to correct in due time: and very louelove in parents, and care of their children must draw them to it.

Thirdly, he saith, that such parents know not what true louelove of children meaneth, but imbrace fondnesse, and foolish pitie in stead of it, who doe spare to correct, when correction is deserued.

Fourthly, that this fondnesse and foolish affection is indeede hatred, and not louelove. The reason why it is to be counted hatred, is set downe, Prou. 19. 18. Chastise thy sonne while there is hope, and let not thy soule spare him, to p. 58his destruction. Where hee plainely saith,… fond pittying and sparing of children is… worke the destruction of them. And is it n… token of great hatred to be a meanes of a… thers destruction? Else where hee sheweth… necessitie of correction, and the good whic… doth: Pro. 22. 15. Foolishnes is bound in the… of a childe, but the rod of correction shall re… it farre from him. As if he should say much f… and lewdnes is couched in a childs heart, wh… if it be not purged will burst foorth into f… enormities, and therefore a purgation is… needfull; and what may that be, but the… correction?

The same is commanded, Pro. 29. 17. … rect thy sonne: where also he sheweth, wha… nefit commeth thereby to the parents: He… giuegive thee rest, yea hee will giuegive pleasures… soule: that is, thou shalt be free from so… heauines, and many troubles, which many… rents hauehave with vngracious children: and… the other side, thou shalt hauehave much com… and delight by him. Great benefit also… meth thereby to the children, as he shewe… the 15. verse, The rod and correction giuegive… dome, and Chap. 23. 13. 14. Whereas the… lect of it bringeth hurt to the child, and to… parents, as followeth: A child set at li… maketh his mother ashamed. And for seru… the Wiseman doth closely shew, how they… be dealt with all, where he saith, Prou. 29.… p. 59He which bringeth vp his seruant delicately from his youth, at length will be depriued of his children. And a little before, verse 19. he saith, A seruant will not be chastised with words: though he vnderstand, yet hee will not answere or regard.

These Scriptures shew that God hath put the rod of correction in the hands of the Gonernours of the familie, by punishment to saue them from destruction; which if the bridle were let loose vntounto them, they would run vntounto. Where men and women are content to goo contrarie to their owne nature, and to vndergo ill reports to obey the ordinance of God, there God will giuegive a blessing, that is, a well ordered familie, wherein all shall be of good hope.

These be the duties, that the chiefe of the familie oweth to them of his familie within The Wiues dutie, touching Christian holinesse. To be a fellow helper, is to yeeld help to her husband, especially at home, in all the matters of the familie. 1. Tim. 5. 14. Tit. 2. 5,1 Tim 5:14Titus 2:5doores, as touching godlinesse. The Wife also, which is a fellow-helper, hath some things belonging to her to further godlinesse in her familie: as for example, in her selfe to giuegive example to her Household of all readie submission to all good & Christian orders, to order her Houshold affaires so carefully that no exercise of religion be hindred, or put out of place, at such time as they should be done: in her husbands absence: to see good orders obserued as he hath appoynted: to watch ouer the manners and behauiour of such as be in her house, and to help her husband in spying out euils that are p. 60breeding, that by his wisdome they may be… uented or cured. Salomon saith of the ve… woman, that she ouerseeth the waies of her… Pro. 31. 27. verse 26.Prov 31:27hold: And a little before, shee openeth her… with wisedome, and the Law of grace is i… tongue. And S. Paul requireth, that wines, s… ally the elder be teachers of good things… that they instruct the younger. They may… do much good in framing the tender yea… their children vntounto good, while they be… their hands. For euen as a childe cockered… made a wanton by the mother will be more… tractable, when the father shall seeke to… him to good: so on the other side, a child w… trained vp by the mother in the young y… will be the easilier brought to goodnesse by… Fathers godly care. We read, that Timothy … made acquainted with the scripture fro… little child, by meanes of his godly Mother,… Grandmother; a good patterne for christi… And marke the proofe: God recompenced… godly care exceedingly: for Timothie prou… rare young man, of excellent graces, to the g… ioy and comfort of his parents. Mothers… also poure good liquour into their child… tender vessels, the sauour whereof shall s… in them a long while after: I meane, they… sowe in their mindes the seede of religion… godlinesse. These and such like duties, if… wife performe constantly, shee shall bring… small help to her husband, for the godly… p. 61…ligions ordering of his house. And thus much …f that part of household gouernment, which …oncerneth godlinesse.

Now we come to the other part, which per…ines The 2. thing, whereat houshold gouernment aymeth.to the things of this life: wherein is to be …onsidered, what is the dutie of the husband, …d of the wife, namely to.

Take order for

Prouision.

and

Health.

They must take order for prouision for ne…essaries Many are carefull to liue but very carelesse to liue well.to the maintenance of themselues, and …ll withall their charge. These necessaries are …ood and rayment. Also care must be had of the …ealth of such as be in their families, both to …reserue it by rest, and recreation if need be, and … restore it if it be hindred, by good looking to …ch as are fallen into sicknesse.

That the Gouernours of the familie must …ake honest prouision for themselues, and their Prouision.…harge, and not liue vponupon the Church almes, …r by begging, purloyning, borrowing, or cou…oning, it is most euident by that saying of Saint Paul to Timothie. He that prouideth not for his 1. Tim. 5. 8.1 Tim 5:8…wne, and especially for them of his house, hath de…ied the faith, and is worse then an infidell. And …alomon saith, The iust man regardeth the life …f his beast: much more of his seruants and children.Pro. 12. 10.Prov 12:10

And as the Spirit of God chargeth vsus with his dutie; so hee setteth vsus about such things p. 62whereby this may be compassed, and for… eth vsus of those things whereby it may be… dered.

The things that hee teacheth vsus for the… What things. be needfull for the making of prouision.king of this prouision, are first, That eueryevery should hath some honest and good calling, & sh… walke diligently in it: that it may bring in ho… gaine, whereby necessaries for the familie… be prepared.

That eueryevery man must apply himselfe to s… A calling. Genes. 3. 19. Calling is our appointed charge and manner of life in some honest worke, wherein we are day-ly to labour, as we may best …rofit therein. Eph. 4. 1. …. Thes. 2. 12.Gen 3:19Eph 4:1studie and calling, is so knowne that it need… no proofe. In the sweate of thy browes thou s… eate thy bread, &c. which condemneth all s… as liue of the labours of other men, and the… selues take no paines or trauaile, doe no g… in the world, benefit not humaine societie… way, but deuoure the good creatures of… earth, which indeed belong to them that t… all the paines. In this rancke doe a number… Gentiles in the world march, deuising gay toy… which might well be spared; who are but… profitable burdens of the earth, that fill vp n… ber like Ciphers, who glorie in their sha… that is, in their ease, pleasures, and braue… where of (if they knew wherto a man was bor… they would be ashamed.

These be they for whose maintenance in th… iollitie a number are faine to toile very hard… fare meanely, and spend their strength to t… very skin and bones, and yet can get but… slender recompence through their vnmercif… p. 63exactions. But inough of them: to returne. The good gouernour of a house must be none of these: but he must hauehave a calling that is good, honest, and lawfull, not onelyonly gainefull to himselfe, but also holy and profitable to the societie of mankind: for thus much doth Saint Paul comprehend within the compasse of his words, Ephes. 24. 28. But let him labour the thing that is good.

It is not inough to hauehave a calling though it be neuer so good, but it must be followed, so as it may bring in maintenance for thee, and thine, such as is meete for thy estate.

But how must it be followed? first, with diligence: 2. The manner of follovving a calling.for as Salomon saith. Prou. 18. 9. Hee that carieth himselfe slouthfully or loosely in his businesse, is the brother of a great waster: that is, he is another waster, and doth as much as an vnthrift or spend-good. To diligence belongeth the blessing. Pro. 10. 4. The hand of the diligent maketh rich. and Chap. 12. 11. Hee that tilleth his land, shall be satisfied with meate. Yea, and a large blessing: The soule of the diligent shall be Pro. 13. 4.Prov 13:4fatted: that is, hee shall hauehave aboundantly. And lest that any should say, that in some callings Diligence, is that, by vvhichwhich vve execute as vvel as we can the labour of our calling. 2. Thes. 3. 10. Rom. 12. 11.2 Thess 3:10Rom 12:11a man may well thriue, but not in mine: It is said. Pro. 14. 23. In all labour, that is, diligent following thy calling, there is abundance. Moreouer, this diligence will bring a man to renowne. Pro. 22. 29. Thou seest, that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, &c.

p. 64The better to kindle the affection vntounto… Of the enimies …o diligence.diligence in following thy calling, consid… what is said by the spirit of God of those eu… that are enemies vntounto it.

Many a man is idle and slothfull because… bour Slouth. …lothfulnesse … a wearinesse … tediousnesse … any godly, …irituall, or …uill exercises …hich one …ught for …ods sake to …e, for the be…efit of the …mmon-…ealth, or for …e sustentati… of himselfe …d his family.and toyle is irkesome and painful to hi… as Pro. 20. 4. The slothfull will not plow beca… of winter: but what is his reward? it followe… therefore shall hee beg in sommer, and hauehave… thing. Pouertie is the fruit of slouthfulnes… Pro. 18. 4. A slouthfull hand maketh poore. A… lest any man should thinke that he could kee… away pouertie, at least a great while: it is s… in Pro. 24. 34. that it commeth violently, a… with great power, and swiftly vponupon such a m… and hee shall not withstand it: Thy pouer… commeth as a light traueller, and thy necessitie… an armed man. In the same place also the mea… whereby it commeth is expressed. Verse. 3… Hee through folly neglected his ground, a… left it vnfenced, and vntilled, and so it yeeld… him no increase. Which being there spoken… husbandrie may be drawne to a generall, tha… let such things lie idle and vnused, which sho… bring in commoditie is the high way to p… uertie.

The slothfull is further described to be a gr… …th, glutto…, and prodi…itie, are the …e paths that …duct and …d men to …uertie.wisher, and woulder, but no good household… Pro. 13. 4. The sluggard lusteth, but his so… hath nought, And againe. All the day l… hee wisheth, but his desire is not accomplishe… p. 65…hich wasteth him with sorrow. Besides, he per…wadeth himselfe that hee hath some sufficient …ay or let to withhold him from diligent labor, …nd so dare not goe forward, as the Wise man …ith, Prouer. 15. 19. The way of the slothfull is a Prou. 26. 13, 14 15, 16.Prov 26:13Prov 26:14…edge of thornes. And in another place he saith, …ro. 26. 13. A lion is in the way. But in trueth it … ease and lazines that letteth him. As the doore Prou. 26. 14.Prov 26:14…rneth vponupon the hinges, so doeth the sloth…ll in his bed. And to shew, that such a man is … a downe-hill to beggerie, Salomon saith, that …e thinketh himselfe very wise in his doing, The Prou. 26. 16.Prov 26:16…ggard is wiser in his owne conceit, then seuen …en that can render a reason. What hope is there … sauing of him that the begger catch him …t, who pleaseth himselfe in his sloth, which …eth summon him to beggery? That also is …t to be omitted, that such a sluggard, who suf…red his owne ground to be ouer growne with …ornes and nettles, stones, or thistels, serueth in …e world for an example to make other men …arie. VnderUnder this is that same luskishnes which …aketh men louelove their ease and sleepe, which …ingeth forth the same fruit that sloth doeth. …e sleeper shall be clothed with rags. Pro. 23. 21. …nd therefore the Wise man laboureth to draw …en from it. Prou. 20. 13. LoueLove not sleepe, least …ou come to pouertie: open thine eyes, and thou …lt be satisfied with bread.

Another enemie to diligence, is, following 2. Idle company keeping.… vaine and idle companie. For though a man p. 66be eager minded toward his businesse, yet… vaine and idle companie he shall be drawne… way to other delights, and lose his good ho… and let go the occasion of doing some thing… the fit season. Therefore Salomon saith, P… 11. 12. The man that followeth the idle is desti… of vnderstanding. And againe, that he shall c… to no better passe, then the idle man, Pro. 28… He that followeth the idle, shall be filled with… uertie. This harme getteth he by haunting… company, and lewd persons. For as sweet… ters are corrupted and spoyled, when they into waters which are salt, bitter, or vnhols… and so loose the vertue thereof: euen so he… ioyneth himselfe in friendship, and doth co… himselfe in familiaritie with wicked and vn… ly None can walke in simplicitie before God, that delighteth in the company of the vngodly.men, becommeth wicked and vngodly h… selfe, and is stayned and blemished with… vices, although heretofore he had been incli… to vertue and godlinesse. For, A little le… (saith the Apostle) doth leauen the whole lu… 1. Cor. 5. 6.

Pastime also carieth many from their calli… and likewise from thrift, Pro. 21. 17. He th… ueth 3. Pastime.pastime, shall be a poore man. Which bei… punishment threatned of God against tha… Lewd pastime causeth naked purses.though a man would be warie of loosing… at play, yet the Lord might some other… bring him to pouertie, and so punish him fo… Thrift consisteth not in gold, but in grace.corrupt delight in that thing which the S… ture hath so branded.

p. 67Lastly, vntounto true diligence Salomon opposeth 4 Great rcckoning.and setteth talking and great reckoning of what they will do. Pro. 14. 23. In all labour there is abundance, but the talke of the lips bringeth only want. For commonly such as make great account of their doings, when it commeth to doing, can finde no fit time to begin.

Now, to finish this point of diligence to be vsed in our calling, marke the good husbandry which the spirit of God teacheth. Pro. 27. 23. Be diligent to know the state of thy flocke, and take heed to thy heards, for riches remaine not alwayes. Where hee willeth men not to trust all to seruants for the care of their cattel and other commodities, but to looke diligently to them themselues. The reason is, for that their riches be not so glewed to them but that if they be not carefully looked vntounto, they will take their leaue and be gone. And so we see it often comes to passe, that they which doe their businesse by others, hauehave others to thriue for them.

But here peraduenture, some husbands and wiues will say: Ye speake much of good husbandry, and good huswiferie? but how would you hauehave them to be good husbands, and good huswifes, that hauehave not wherewith to be a good husband, or good huswife on? Whereunto we answere, that good husbandry and good huswifery consisteth not so much in hauing much or little, as in the wise, carefull, discreet, & good forecasting of that which God in merciemercy hath p. 68inabled and inriched them with, to see eue… thing wel ordered, and imployed to a good e… and vse. For we see by experience, that so… husbands, and wiues, can so husbandly and h… wifely dispose of things, that they will make… fairer shew of a little, and cause it to stretch f… ther then many can of much. Yea, some can… as much with twentie Nobles, as some ot… can with twentie or thirtie pounds.