Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

wisdom; but a child left to himself, bringeth his mother to shame. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight to thy soul. 6. Provision for them of what is needful for the present; as also laying up for them, according to the proportion of what they have, for the future. 1 Tim. v. 8, If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 2 Cor. xii. 14, For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 7. Disposal of them to trades, callings, and in marriage, when grown up, as may be most for their good; therein using no force, but consulting and considering their capacity and inclination. Gen. iv. 1, 2, And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bare Cain. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 1 Cor. vii. 36, 38, But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not; let them marry. So then, he that giveth her in marriage doth well.

Q. 7. What are the duties of wives to their husbands? A. The duties of wives to their husbands, are, 1. Love of them above all other persons in the world. Titus ii. 4, That they teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. 2. Loyalty and faithfulness, in reference unto the bed and estate,and any secrets intrusted with them. Heb. xiii. 4, Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled. 1 Tim. iii. 11,

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sc ber, faithful in all things. 3. Reverence and fear of offendnig them. Eph. v. 33, Let the wife see that she reverence her husband. 4. Subjection unto them in all things lawful under Christ. Eph. v. 22, 24, Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. As the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 5. Care to please them, suiting themselves to their disposition, and all things to their liking. 1 Cor. vii. 34, She that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may

ļ

Please her husband. 6. Helping them to bear their bur dens, and in making provision for their family. Gen. ii. 18, And the Lord said, It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him an help meet for him. Prov. xxxi. 27, She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idieness. 7. Giv ing ear to, and complying with the counsels of their hus bands, if good, for their souls' welfare; and endeavour. ing with meekness and wisdom, with kindness and loving admonitions, and a chaste, sweet conversation, to win their husbands over to the ways of God, when they are wicked. 1 Pet. iii. 1, 2, Ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands; that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

Q. 8. What are the duties of husbands to their wives? A. The duties of husbands to their wives, are, 1. Most endeared love to them, like unto the love of Christ to his church. Eph. v. 25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it. 2. Dwelling with them, and according to knowledge, honcuring them, and delighting in their company. Eph. v. 31, For this cause shall a man leave his father and moher, and shall be joined unto his wife. 1 Pet. iii. 7, Husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel. Prov. V. 18, 19, Rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind, and pleasant roe: let her breasts satisfy thee at all times, and be thou ravished always with her love. 3. Tenderness towards them, and careful pro vision of food and raiment, and all things necessary for them, as for their own bodies. Eph. v. 28, 29, So ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: he that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it. 4. Fidelity to them in keeping the marriage covenant, so as to forbear the use of any other besides themselves. Hosea iii. 3, Thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. 5. Protection of them from injuries, and covering of their infirmities with the wings of love,

1 Sam. xxx. 18, And David rescued his two wives. 1 Peti iv. 8, For charity [or love] shall cover a multitude of sins. 6. Care to please them in all things lawful and fit, and praise of them when they do well. 1 Cor. vii. 33, He that is married, careth for the things that are of the world how he may please his wife. 7. Prayer with them and for them, counsel and admonition of them, and every way helping them, especially in reference to their souls, walking with them in the ways and ordinances of the Lord. 1 Peter iii. 7, Ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge, as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. Luke i. 6, And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Q.9. What are the duties of servants to their masters? A. The duties of servants to their masters, are, 1. Honour of their masters in their heart, speech, and behaviour. Mal. i. 6, A servant honoureth his master. 1 Tim. vi. 1, Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their own masters worthy of all honour. 2. Service of them with diligence, willingness, fear, and out of obedience unto Christ. Eph. vi. 5, 6, 7, Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ: not with eye-service, as menpleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. 3. Faithfulness to them in their estate, and any trust committed to them, with endeavours to please them well in all things. Titus ii. 9, 10, Exhort servants to please their own masters well in all things; shewing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 4. Meekness and patience under reproof and strokes, and that not only when they do deserve them, but also when they are innocent. 1 Pet. ii. 18, 19, 20, Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering

wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptable with God.

Q. 10. What are the duties of masters to their ser vants?

in

A. The duties of masters to their servants, are, 1. Wisdom and gentleness in their guidance and government of their servants, and acceptance of their diligence and willingness in their service, not threatening for every fault, remembering that they also are servants to Christ, and have many faults to be covered. Eph. vi. 9, And ye, masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing [or moderating] threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; and there is no respect of persons with him. 2. Provision of convenient and sufficient food for them. Prov. xxvii. 27, Thou shalt have enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance of thy maidens. 3. Payment of their wages full, and at the promised time. Col. iv. 1, Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal. Deut. xxiv. 14, 15, Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant. At his day thou shalt give him his hire; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry out against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee. 4. Reproof of them for sin, and correction of them with more than words for some faults. Prov. xxix. 19, A servant will not be corrected by words; for though he understand, he will not answer. 5. Instruction of them in the ways of God; worshipping God with them; allowance of time every day for worshipping God by themselves; re straining them as much as they can from every sin, especially from external breach of the Sabbath; exhorta tion and persuasion of them unto the obedience and ser vice of the Lord, and therein to be both examples unto, and companions with them. Gen. xviii. 19, I know him, that he will command his household, and they shall keep the ways of God. Josh. xxiv. 15, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Acts x. 2, A devout man, and one that feared God, with all his house.

Q. 11. What are the duties of the people to their ministers?

A. The duties of people to their ministers, are, 1. High estimation of them, and endeared love to them, for their work's sake. Thess. v. 12, 13, And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Gal. iv. 14, 15, Ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. For I bear you record, that if it had been possible, yé would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me, 2. Diligent attendance upon the word preached, and other ordinances administered by them. Luke x. 16, He, that heareth you, heareth me. 3. Meek and patient suffering the word of reproof, and ready obedience unto the word of command, which ministers shall from the scriptures make known unto them, together with submission unto the discipline intrusted with them by the Lord. James i. 21, Receive, with meekness, the engrafted word, &c. Heb. xiii. 17, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls. 4. Communicating to them of their temporals.

1 Cor. ix, 14, The Lord hath ordained, that they which preach the gospel, should live of the gospel. Gal. vi. 6, Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 5. Prayer for them. Rom. xv. 30, Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. 1 Thess. v. 25, Brethren, pray for us. 6. Shutting their ear against reproaches and slanders, believing nothing without proof; and standing up in their defence against an ungodly world, and many false brethren, and rotten-hearted hypocrites, who are made use of by the devil to cast dirt upon them, that thereby people, receiving prejudices against them, might be kept either from hearing them, or receiving benefit by their doctrine, and so be either drawn to ways of error, or hardened in ways of profaneness. 1 Tim. v. 19, Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

« FöregåendeFortsätt »