Exhortation to the Ministers of Gods Word, Part
The summe and effect of all which, is as followeth.
As the Lord our God hath made and created children through their parents: so hath he Fathers and mothers are to their children in Gods stead. Exod. 20. 12. Deut. 5. 13. By honour is meant all kind of dutie, which children owe to their Parents.cast and made them subiect vnderunder the power and authoritie of their parents, to obey and serue them in his stead, saying: Honour thy father and mother: which honour consisteth not in bowing the knee, or putting off the cap, or giuing to their parents the vpper hand onelyonly: but in this, that they louelove them withall their hearts, that they feare and dread them, that they cheerfully doe their commandements, will and pleasure, that they seeke their worship, credit, profit and preferment in all things lawfull, and if neede require, that they giuegive their liues for them: remembring that they are their parents goods and possessions, and that they owe to them euen their owne selues, and all that they are able to doe, yea, and more then they are able.
By this word Honour, is also signified the louelove, reuerence, dutie, obedience, subiection, entertainement, and necessarie assistance that children owe to their parents. As concerning the louelove, the summarie of the second Table, comprehended in these words, Thou shalt louelove Mat. 22. 29.thy neighbour as thy selfe, doth manifestly confirme it. For who can be a neerer neighbour …or the children to louelove, then their parents?
Besides that they are not to be loued onelyonly … neighbours proceeding of Adam and Eue, …t also as fathers and mothers. And therefore …hat ingratitude is it, not to louelove those of …hom, next after God, they hauehave their life and …ing, together with many great and conti…all benefits? Also the louelove that parents …e beare their children, besides so many …eir labours, sorrowes, troubles, and vexations, …ould binde them reciprocally to louelove them. The Sun shining a while vponupon the cold stones …th so heate them that they yeelde some …rmth, so albeit that children be as hard and …de as stones, yet the experience▪ and the day… feeling the louelove of their parents towards …em, ought mightily to inflame their hearts to …e them againe. Take away the beame from …e Sun, and it will not shine: the springs from …e riuer, and it will drie vp: the bough from the …e, and it will wither: the member from the bo… and it will rot: and so take from children …eir dutie to their parents, and they are no lon…r children, but brethren and companions with …ose vntounto whom Iesus Christ said: Ye are the …ldren of the diuell. Iohn. 8. 44.
This band of the louelove of children towards …eir parents, should take such place, not onelyonly …ward such parents as are louing and gentle, …t also (as Saint Peter saith of the duties of ser…nts to their masters) euen toward such as be rigorous. For if we ought to louelove all the children of Adam, euen those we know not, yea our enimies and persecutors: how much rather our parents, albeit they should intreate vsus roughly and with rigour, either in word or deed? and verily the principall cause still abideth: namely, that they be our father & mother. This ought children well to note, to the end that patiently bearing their reprehensions, reproofes, and in generall, whatsoeuer their troublesome and sharpe affections, they may still continue and declare their child-like affection and louelove. And to that purpose children must remember the labour, griefe, anguish, weeping, sorrow, and other troublesome cares, that their Parents doe abide and endure for them.
This louelove must be accompanied with reuerence Matth. 23. 9.and respect: and to say the trueth, albeit the name of Father belongeth properly vntounto God, as Iesus Christ saith: You hauehave but one father, euen him that is in heauen: yet doth he so impart it to those that hauehave begotten vsus, that they being called fathers, do beare the title and image of God. And this is it that bindeth children to respect and honour them, and to testifie the same by their outward reuerence. Of this reuerence we hauehave a notable example in Salomon: hee vnderstanding that his mother 1. King. 2. 19.Bathsheba was comming to speake with him, arose from his seat, came to meete her, bowed before her, and set her vponupon his right hand. …either could his greatnesse, neither his royall …e priuiledge him from this respect and ho…r due to his mother. When the sonne doth …ute his magistracie, or publike office, he is …ter then his father, and must beare himselfe … a Magistrate, not as a sonne: but when he is … of place, or execution of office, he must (how …ly soeuer he be aduanced) hauehave a respect … yeeld reuerence to his parents. But many …es it falleth out otherwise: for many children …en they come to honour, or wealth, doe so …pise their parents, if they be of meaner cal… then themselues, that hardly they will ac…wledge, or call them father, as if they were …med of them. So that, that man putteth off … affection of a child to his father, who by the …inencie of an office ouer him, quencheth the …e of a sonne.
But Salomon forgat not himselfe in this …d of dutie, for he did not onelyonly bow before … mother, as is afore said, but also called her …ther: saying, Mother, aske, and I will not deny 1. King. 2. 20.…. And this doe we the rather note also vp… another consideration, namely, that his ex…ple condemneth the custome of these daies, …erein this name of father and mother is ac…nted so base and contemptible, that the …ldren of Kings, Princes, yea euen of meane …tlemen, speaking to their parents, must no… …, father, mother: but Sir, my Lord, my Lady, …dame, &c.
But the due honour to parents that we here speake of, implieth not onelyonly this outward reuerence, but also that we should so esteeme of them, as that neither our selues should despise them, neither should wee suffer others to hauehave them in contempt. And this are we to vnderstand in the saying of Iesus Christ: I honour my Iohn 8. 49.father, but you dishonour me. Hee there defenddeth the honour of his father, against the false opinions and slaunders of the Iewes. But some there are so vnnaturall and peruerse, that forgetting all due reuerence and respect to their Parents, they will not onelyonly despise them in their owne hearts, and suffer others to speake hardly of them: but also will themselues so farre exceed, as euen to lay them open to the scorne of others.
Ham the sonne of Noah seeing his father lie Gen. 9. 22.vncouered, called his brethren to shew them his fathers shame. But so odious was this impietie in the sight of God, that Noah by the conduct and direction of the holy Ghost, cursed both him and all his posteritie. And therefore wee well and truely may say, that those children, who in stead of defending the honour of their parents, doe lay them open to shame and reproofe, doe come of the cursed seed of Ham.
This dutie of honouring parents, is performed The honour due to parents.and payed, when they doe worshipfully and reuerently esteeme of them, as to thinke …t they are giuen to them of God to the end …at they should reuerence, louelove, and alwayes Childrens dutie is from their beginning to their ending, to be subiect, obedient and helpfull to their Parents.…e a care of them, if for nothing else, yet for …e Lords sake, who is, and doth thinke him…fe despised, so long as children contemne …eir parents, and little regard them. So the …ldren honour their parents, when with their …pe and counsell, they ayd them in their old …ge, and vnweildie crookednesse, when they …se and help them in the time of their need, or …ccour them otherwise in any case else, and do …oly bestow themselues, and all that they Mat. 15. 4. 5. 6.…e, to do them good withall: yea, they ought … to giuegive them a rough or stubborne answer, Exod. 21. 15. 17▪ Leuit. 20. 9. Pro. 20. 20. an… 30. 17. Deut. 27. 16.… once so much as to mumble or mutter an …swere against their parents, neither to smite … curse, or speake euill of their father and mo…r: vnlesse they will procure the vengeance … God to light vponupon them for the same.
Children hauehave alwaies to remember, that What childre… do to their parents, they do… to God, so tha… they may not purloine or diminish any of their substance Pro. 28. 24.…hatsoeuer they doe to their fathers and mo…ers (be it good or euill) they doe it to God: …hen they please them, they please God: and …hen they disobey them, they disobey God: …hen their parents are iustly angry with them, God is angrie with them: neither can it be that …ey may come to hauehave the fauour of God …aine (no, although all the Saints in hea…en should intreat for them) vntill they hauehave …bmitted themselues to their father and mo…er.
If children and seruants would alwaies keep in mind this saying, so to do and behaue themselues to their parents, maisters, and dames, as Matth. 7. 12.they would hauehave their children and seruants to do, and behaue themselues to them, when God shall vouchsafe to make them parents, masters or dames: then no doubt they would obey and reuerence their parents and masters, and dames, more dutifully and faithfully then now they doe.
For let them assure themselues, that such measure as they now meat to their parents, masters, Matth. 7. 2.and dames, such will be measured to them againe, by their children and seruants.
Also the children must be carefull to follow the good examples of their fathers and mothers, and to suffer themselues to be gouerned by them, and to be mindfull to bestow all paine and diligence to discharge their dutie towards them: and herewithall they must know, that they are not at their owne libertie to do as they list, so long as they hauehave a father and mother to rule them: and that they must not fall out among themselues, but mutually louelove and help one another.
And children hauehave alwaies to remember, that they may not in any case obey their parents, when they shall command them to doe or say any thing that is contrarie to the word of God, and yet they are to be thought well of.
For example, Ionathan, obeyed not father …ls commandement, who charged him to 1. Sam. 20 28. &c. & 22. 17. Dan. 3. 18. Act 4. 19.…ersecute Dauid: and therefore he is worthily …mmended in the holy Scripture. For, the du…es of the first table, are alwaies to be preferd …fore the duties of the second table. This sub…ction therefore that children owe vntounto their …hers, ought in verie deed to be vntounto them … a ladder, or staire, to lead them to the reue…ce Mat. 23. 9.and obedience of God who is our chiefe …her.
As children receiue of their parents three …ings: to wit, life, maintenance, and instruction: … for these three they owe other three, namely, … life, they owe louelove: for maintenance, they …e obedience: for instruction, they owe reue…ce. For their life, they must feruently louelove …eir parents: for their maintenance, they must …tifully obey their parents, as masters: and for …eir instruction, they must cheerfully reue…ce their parents, as their Tutors.
And further, children must remember, that …e Lord hath giuen to them their parents, to …e of them their beginning of life, and that …ey might nourish and bring them vp: & that …f rude, and almost brutish things, they might make them able to help and liue of themselues: …a, and such mothers as are godly and vertu…s, doe suffer and endure more paine & griefe … the bearing, bringing vp, and nourishing of …heir children, then the fathers doe.
So that greater are the pleasures and good turne, that Christian parents doe for their children, greater is the cost and labour that they bestow on them, and greater is the care, griefe, and trouble, which they take for them, then any man, how learned so euer he be, is able to expresse. And therefore if there were no other reasons or causes to moue children greatly to louelove, to esteeme well, to obey, to be kind, faithfull, and dutifull, and to reuerence their parents, and that with such a reuerence as commeth from the heart: yet these were sufficient.
Maides and young women are to be put in mind, and alwaies to remember, that the best portion, the greatest inheritance, and the most precious iewell that they can bring with them on the marriage day, is shamefastnes: the want whereof is most hurtfull in all women. And therefore they must carefully shun and auoyde all idle and wanton talke, nice lookes, dalliance, and light countenance, when they walke abroad or be in companie. A man needeth many things: as wisedome, eloquence, knowledge of things, remembrance, skil in some trade or craft to liue by, iustice, courage and other things and qualities moe, which were too long to rehearse: and though some of these be lacking, yet he is not to be disliked, so that hee hauehave many of them. But in a maide, no man will looke for eloquence, great wit, ordering of the Common-wealth, prudence, &c.
Finally, no man will looke for any other When a woman loseth her honestie, then hath she lost her chiefe treasure.…ing of a woman, but her Honestie: the which …ely if it be lacking, shee is like a man that …anteth all that he should hauehave. For in a maide, …e honestie and chastitie is in stead of all. She …ely may truely be said to be an euill keeper, …t cannot keepe one thing well, committed … her keeping, and put in trust to her, with …ch commendation of words: and especially …hich no man will take from her against her …ll, nor touch it, except she be willing her selfe. The which thing onelyonly, if a woman remem…er, it will cause her to take great heed vntounto, …d to be a more warie and carefull keeper of …er honestie, which alone being lost, though all …ther things be neuer so well and safe, yet they …erish together therewith, because she that hath …ce lost her Honestie, should thinke there is …othing left.
Take from a maide or woman her beautie, …ke from her kindred, riches, comelinesse, elo…ence, sharpenes of wit, cunning in her craft, …nd giuegive her Chastitie, and you hauehave giuen her all things. And on the other side, giuegive her all …hese things, and iustly call her whore, or nough…e-packe: with that one word you hauehave taken all from her, and left her bare and foule. How precious a iewell Chastitie is, may easily be gathered from the example of Dinah the daughter of Leah, which shee bare vntounto Iacob, who when hee heard that shee was rauished, and Gen. 34. 12.defiled by Sechem, the sonne of Hamor the Hiuite, Lord of that countrie, his minde was grieuously wounded with this great shame and reproach.
Children may not forget this dutie, for hauing receiued their being from their parents, Children may not marrie without the consent and agreement of their Parents: so that an vnlawfull promise made by the child may lawfully be brokenand being brought vp by them, with great paines and much cost, they should not so much as giuegive any liking, much lesse speech of marriage, without the consent of parents, or of those which are set ouer them by their parents: the dutie of thankfulnesse requiring it at their hands. And not onelyonly in regard of thankfulnesse, is this dutie to be performed to their parents, but euen in regard of their owne inabilitie, as being not experienced in such things, and their wits being not so ripe as their parents, they wanting wisedome and discretion to behaue themselues as they ought. For some children know not what is meete and conuenient for them, nor whether they be of meet age and condition to marrie. Which inhabilitie being in the sonnes, is much more in the daughters, as being the weaker by nature, and more vnable to prouide for themselues; and therefore it is necessarie, that they should not marrie without the consent and direction of their parents, but that they be at their bestowing: for, to doe otherwise is a sinne, euen that nature it selfe abhorreth: and all sound writers, old and new, do vtterly disallow.
And for so much as marriage is the meanes It is a sweet wedding, when the father and the mother bring a blessing to the feast: and a heauie vnion, which is cursed the first day that it is knit.…e which God himselfe hath ordained, and …anctified for the propagation and in crease of …ankind, that being taken in hand in his feare, …godly seed being multiplied and growen vp …ere one earth, the same may be blessed, to the …nstitution and making of a Church, the …hich may serue him in holinesse and righte…snes: when the same is taken in hand, with the …each of his commandement, so farre off is …, that any blessing is to be hoped for, that con…ariwise, his hot indignation, wrath and heauy …se hangeth ouer that house and familie, …here the parties, which are the principall pil…ers and vpholders of the same, are linked and …ed together in such a band of wedlock, whose …kes and inclosings, are not fastned and cou…led together with the necessarie and lawfull …ssent and liking of the parents, whose autho…ie and consent ought to beare the chiefest …ay, and strike likewise greatest stroke, in this …onourable action.
And likewise as where marriage is begun …d enterprised in the feare of God, according … his word, there God is well pleased, there the …arties so matched, liue together in a ioyfull a…eement, and linking the one to the other, there God is honoured, and serued in sinceritie and …uth, there the children (when God giueth them) with the rest of the familie, are instructed and brought vp in knowledge of religion, and grounds of faith: so on the other side, the regard of that which God especially commandeth, being shut out of our marriages, there must needs ensue his dislike, and displeasure: there is iarre and discord: there Gods honour is neglected: there houshold discipline and Christian instruction of such as belong vntounto our charge, goeth vtterly to wracke, and is nothing at all regarded. And no maruell: for, if where God blesseth, all things goe well, and doe prosper: then consequently, where he curseth, there nothing thriueth, hath good successe, or goeth happily forward. It may appeare by sundry examples, both before the law was giuen, and after, that this is a dutie required of children towards their parents, namely, to hauehave their consent in contracting of marriage: as these places doe plainly shew: Gen. 21. 21. and 24. 3. &c. and 29. 19. 1. Sam. 18. 1.and 34. 4. Deut. 7. 3. 4. Iudge. 14. 1. &c. 1. Cor. 7. 36. 38. Whereby is manifestly proued, that children ought not to match without the consent of their parents:
First, because it is against the law of nature.
Secondly, because the parents hauehave authoritie ouer their children, more then they hauehave ouer Exod. 21. 4.their seruants.
Thirdly, because children are their fathers goods and riches, and therefore they must not bestow themselues in marriage but must be bestowed of their parents.
Fourthly, because parents hauehave authoritie …er the vowes of their Children. Numb. 30. …. 5. 6.
Fiftly, if a mans daughter be inticed, yet her Contracts void without the consent of parents.…ther may refuse the contract, being not a…ilable or of any force, without his consent. …xod. 22. 16. 17.
Besides all this, what clearer proofe can we …ue then the fift Commandement, in the which …ildren are commanded to honour their Fa…ers and mothers with a blessing promised to …ose which performe the same: whereby wee …her by the nature of contraries, that there … a curse also belonging to all those children …at shall dishonour them.
And in that God willeth that the parents …y their children should be honoured, he mea…eth that they should in all humilitie and mo…estie reuerence them, with all dutiful submissi… be obedient vntounto them, and with all willing…esse shew themselues thankfull for their crea…n, education, sustentation, and all other bene…s that vnderunder God they hauehave receiued from …em, being ready by all meanes they possibly …ay, to imitate and expresse towards them the …ure of the Storke, whose property (as they …i…e of them) is to prouide meate and feede …ir dams, when through age they grow so old, …at they are not able to help themselues: that … to say, they must to their very vtmost seeke … make them recompence and requitall, of …me part of those vnrequitable paines, the which their louing parents hauehave taken with them, and make some amends for the vncounteruailable kindnesse that they hauehave shewed towards them.
But where they bestow themselues in marriage without the consent of their parents, there they doe fault, and make a breach of dutie, in all these three respects: that is to say, they neyther reuerence, obey, nor shew themselues thankfull vntounto them.
For Reuerence consisteth in this, that children carry towards their parents a certaine honest and modest shamefastnesse, ioyned with a bashful awfulnesse, & standing in feare of them, the which worketh in them a conceiuing of such an opinion and estimation of them, as that they hauehave an especiall respect and regard of them, in doing or not doing of things, rather of a care to please them, then of a feare to offend them.
Obedience herein sheweth forth it selfe, in that willingly without murmuring or grudging they be willing to be ordered, directed, guided, and ruled by their parents: being ready to doe all lawfull things, which they command them, and to refraine from those things, which they shall forbid them.
Thankfuluesse (besides that there are many other branches) is alwayes mindfull of benefits receiued, and therefore carryeth continually a vigilant and watchfull eye towards the partie by whom it hath beene pleasured that no discourtisie in any case be offred, or any occasion be ministred, whereby hee may conceiue vnkindnesse.
And by this familiar description of these three heads (wherein standeth chiefely, the honour due vntounto parents,) wee may clearely see that those children which in wedding tarry not for the consent of their fathers and mothers, doe neither stand in awfull feare of them, as whom they would be loath to offend or displease; nor yet giuegive ouer themselues in all things to be gouerned and aduised by them, nor hauehave any regard, that they be not causers to make their friends and parents conceiue hardly and vnkindly of them; when as it is more then manifest, that in matters concerning their dutie towards their parents, no griefe cutteth nearer vntounto the heart, then this, when their children entangle themselues contrary to their minde and liking.
And therefore such children as match in this sort, as it were in spight of the teeth of their fathers and mothers, are neither reuerent, obedient, nor thankful vntounto them, and so consequently, they doe not honour them: whereby they incurre and runne into the curse of God, which without true and vnfained repentance, must needes pull downe vponupon the heads of themselues, and their families, the fearefull plagues of God his most heauy and hot indignation against them, to their vtter subuersion, decay, and ruine.
Let all dutifull and good nurtured children therefore, in the reuerence and feare of God, consider what honour and obedience they owe vntounto their parents, and what power and authoritie hee hath in his word sanctified vntounto them ouer their children in the Lord; and in regard hereof, let them yeeld vntounto them in this dutie, that their fathers hauing prouided for them such as are not of a wicked life, nor deformed, nor euill fauoured, nor of a contrary religion, they willingly submit themselues vntounto their choise; which if for the present, or vponupon the sodaine they cannot yeeld vntounto, let them by earnest Children mar…iageable are to …ray vntounto God …o direct their …arents in a …odly choise, …nd to incline …heir minds to …ccept of the …ame. Gen. 9. 22.calling vponupon the name of God, not onelyonly desire him to direct their parents in a godly and fit choyse, but also to subdue in them this corrupt affection, and to frame their wils to be plyable vntounto their Fathers in such lawfull cases. For the Lord our God in his iustice doth iustly punish disobedient children: as may appeare by the example of Cham the younger sonne of Noah, who dirided his Father, and was iustly punished for it.
Likewise Absolon vsing wicked practises …. Sam. 15. 1. &c. …nd. 18. 9.to get the kingdome from Dauid his father, for his rebellion and disobedience, came to a most miserable end. Yea, and he hath in his Law set downe a most seuere and sharpe punishment against disobedient children: If any man hauehave a sonne that is stubborne and disobedient, which Deut 21. 18. 19. 20. 21.will not hearken vntounto the voyce of his father, and the voyce of his mother, and they hauehave chastened him, and he would not obey them, then shall his father and his mother take him, and bring him …t vntounto the Elders of his Citie, and vntounto the gate of the place where hee dwelleth, and shall say vntounto the Elders of his Citie: This our Son is stubborne …d disobedient, and hee will not obey our admoni…n: he is a riotor and a drunkard: Then all the …en of his Citie shall stone him with stones vntounto …ath: so thou shalt take away euill from among you, that all Israel may heare it, and feare. For euen as a long and a prosperous life is promised Exod. 20. 12. Eph. 6. 2.vntounto obedient children: so on the other side, all disobedient, vnthankfull, and obstinate children, are assured of the punishment of infamy, joyned with diuers and great calamities & torments. 1. Sam. 2. 22. 1. King. 1. 25. &c. Deu. 28. 15. & … Leuit. 26. 14. & …Deut. 21. 18. &c. Prou. 20. 20. and 30. 17.
And although that the temporall officers be negligent in punishing this disobedience: yet shall they not escape vnpunished. For the …engeance of God shall accompany them vn…ll they be vtterly destroyed. For there is no…hing more vnnaturall, then to see children dishonour and disobey their Parents: and inferi…urs their superiours. Such may aptly be compared to the Viper, that gnaweth out the belly of her dam, and seeketh her owne life, with her dams death.
So contrariwise, the word of God doth highly commend Ioseph for his great louelove, beneficence, …n. 46. 29. &c. …d 48. 11. 12.and obedience extended towards his father Iacob, and his brethren: in that hee both helped and liberally nowrished them, and prayed for them. Our Sauiour Christ was also obedient …ke. 2. 49.to his parents euen vntil death. So that the Lord (no doubt) will blesse obedient children with many happy dayes and yeeres, to his glory …eut. 5. 16.and their soules comfort.
And to the end to inuite and stirre vp children, to honour their parents, as before is shewed, the Lord addeth this promise: That thy …xod. 20. 12.dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee: & as S. Paul doth note, that …phes. 6. 2.it is the first Commandement with promise. For albeit there be a promise added to the second, and others of the first Table, yet this fift Commandement is the first of righteousnesse, and none in the second Table besides it hath any promise annexed thereunto.
For herein hath God declared how highly he commendeth the obedience and honour that children yeeld to their parents. But the Lord spake to the Israelites properly of the Land, that hee had promised them for an inheritance, which should be vntounto them as a testimony and seale of his goodnesse and louelove towards them. It is therefore as if he should hauehave said. To the end, that liuing vponupon the earth thou maist long enioy the earnest penny of my goodnesse and …ce towards thee. But now seeing the whole …ath blessed to the faithfull, the promise of …g life vponupon the earth is vntounto vsus a blessing of God.
First, because we cannot liue long without …rticipating of many and great benefits of God, euen in respect of the presernation of this …sent life.
Secondly, because the faithfull may the lon… imploy themselues to serue & glorifie God.
In consideration whereof, wee see what the Church in old time said: The dead praise not Psal. 115. 17. 18.… Lord, neither any that goe downe into the place …lence: But we will praise the Lord from hence…th and for euer. The same doth Hezekiah …ng of Iudah, also note in his Canticle: The Esay. 38. 19.…ing, the liuing, hee shall confesse thee, as I doe …s day: The father to the children shall declare …y truth.
In as much therefore, as long life is promi… as a blessing, God doth continue it to obe…ent children, so long as it is a blessing vntounto …em. And hereupon doth S. Paul ioyne toge…er these two sentences: That it may goe well Ephes. 6. 3.…th thee, and that thou maist liue long vponupon the …th. As also when God taketh away such o…edient children before they be old; yea, be…e they come vntounto mans estate, whether it …e, least malice should corrupt their hearts, … to preuent some great calamities, where… they might peraduenture be entangled, or vponupon whatsoeuer other considerations, to receiue them into a better life, hee doth faithfully performe his promise vntounto such children, because hee dealeth better then promise with them.
But as contrariwise, this promise threatneth such children as will not honour their parents, with short life: so doth experience declare that many such children are of short and wretched life. But if contrariwise, such disobedient children doe chance to liue long, so farre is long life from being vntounto them a blessing, that on the contrary, it is an inforcement and increase of woe, because they inlarge their iust condemnation, so as they had beene better to hauehave dyed in their youth. But howsoeuer it be, God so disposeth thereof, that by the effects, wee may perceiue, that they which honour their parents, are blessed, and the others are accursed. Eccle. 3. 2. &c.
And although some parents doe not performe those duties towards their children inioyned them from the Lord: yet such children as liue wickedly, must know, that they are not exempt and free from blame and guiltinesse before God.
For although they can say (as the children in Ezekiels time said:) The fathers hauehave eatensowre grapes, and the childrens teeth are set on edge: we say, that a though the occasion be offred of such vngodly and wicked parents, yet the cause of …uction is still in the children themselues. … besides that, it is sure, that the soule that … sinned shall die the death.
…eeing there be some young men and maids, … notwithstanding the great prophanenesse …e most, the manifold corruptions offered …nd, the vngodly examples abounding at …e, are so mightily preserued by the seed of …e, that they escape safely in an holy course …e, lamenting when they see the least occa… of euill, reioycing at the least occasion of …d things: the rest, who please themselues, … hope to shelter their sinnes vnderunder their pa… defaults, are plainely left without excuse, …are iustly guilty of the bloud of their owne …es.
Labour therefore ye young men and mai… to wipe away the teares of griese from … fathers eyes, and stay the mournfull and …wfull spirits of your tender mothers, and …sider in your selues, if ye hauehave any nature in …, and hauehave not buried the vse of common …n, what a shame it is, to be a shame vntounto … fathers, to whom ye ought to be a glory: …ke, ye wanton wits, that hauehave not cast off …turall affections, what a contempt it is, to … a contempt vntounto your mothers, to whom … hauehave offered, as it were, a despightfull vio…e, in that yee are a corrasiue to their griefe, …n as ye should hauehave been a crowne to their …forts.
Learne therfore ye children, that it is one speciall propertie of a liberall and ingenious nature, to be carefull to liue, that in time yee may be a glory to your fathers, and a ioy to your mothers: which the Lord for his Christs sake graunt.
These precepts and admonitions before said, are as a summary of the duties of children to their parents. And therefore it resteth, that they vnderstanding them, doe pray vntounto God to giuegive them grace to put them in practise to his glory, and their good and saluation.
Lastly, let them remember, that God is not more inclined to heare any prayers, then such as parents doe poure forth for their children. As they are therefore to feare their curse, for offending them: so must they by honouring and pleasing them, seeke to be blessed in their prayers, which are blessings ratified vntounto them in heauen, as the blessing of Isaac to his sonne Iacob, doth manifestly declare. Gen. 27. 28. 29.