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part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trepassed.

Exod.22.2. If a thief be found breaking up, and be fmitten that he die, there fhall no blood be Shed for him.

V.3. If the Sun be rifen upon him, there shall be blood fhed for him; for he should make full reftitution: If he have nothing, then he shall be fold for his theft.

СНАР. Х.

Concerning the duties of Governours of
Families.

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Overnours of Families ought to be very careful that not only themselves, but the reft of their Family alfo do faithfully ferve the Lad.

In treating of this,

1. Ifhall give fome Arguments for it.

2. Some Directions for the right performing of it.

3. Shew, whence the neglect of it proceeds.

I. There is great reason for it, in respect of God, whofe Honour (above all things) we should endeavour to advance: And what better courfe can be taken for it, than to fet up his Worship in our bonfes and families.

II. In respect of our Families. The greatest good we can poffibly do them, is, to inftruct them in the principles of true Piety. To provide an eftate or inheritance for children, meat and drink and wages for fervants, is no more than fober Hea thens do: What fingular thing is this? To leave them rightly principl'd, and inftructed, interested in the Covenant of Grace, under the fa vour, bleffing, and protection of God: This is a high and a fingular good indeed. For this they may have caufe to bleß God for ever. Is it enough for Chriftian Parents to breed up their Children fo as they may live in this World, and take no care what shall become of them hereafter? Can they be content to train them up for the Devil, to be for ever tormented with him in Hell? (And yet fo they must be, if they live and die in ignorance, impenitencie and unbelief) Where are their bow

els?

III. In refpect of Church and Common-wealth. A Family is the first fociety, and a feminary of the reft. 'Tis made up of fingle perfons in feveral relations: And Towns, Congregations, Cities, Countries, all are made up of feveral Families Particular Families are (as it were) the hives out of which Swarms go forth into the world. To make Families good and religions, is the way to make good Magiftrates, good Husbands, good Wives, good Mafters, good Servants, good Neigh bours. Families are the Nurseries of Church and

State.

State. Now if the Canker take the young trees in the Nursery, they are never like to be good when they are transplanted. The want of Family reformation, is the cause of most of the miscarriages in Church and Common-wealth. If there be Ignorance, prophaneneffe, errour, ungodlineffe in particular Families, we fhall foon hear of it in Church and State. As therefore Elifha heal'd the naughty waters, by cafting in falt at the fpring head,2 King, 2.21. So let us labour to feafon our Families with true Piety, if we would keep diforders out of Church and State.

'Tis true, when all care is ufed, there may be fome bad in the best Families. In the first Family, there was a Cain, in the best Family, a Fudas, in Noahs Family (the only Family then on earth) 3 Cham; yet ordinarily God is pleafed fo to bless the care and endeavours of religious Governours, that their Families are Schools of Piety and Vertue, and both Church and Common-wealth reap the fruit of it.

IV. In refpect of our felves.

1. The benefit is great that will come to us thereby. There is no fuch way to bring children and fervants to be obedient and faithful, as to infuse principles of true Piety into them, and to plant the fear of God in their hearts. Then they will do their duties for Confcience fake: And befides, fuch perfons in a Family are a great bleffing to it. Potiphar's Family was bleffed for Fofephs, & Labans for Facobs fake. 2. 'Tis

2. 'Tis a great honour to a Family, to be truly religious. Let prophane (coffers talk what they will Is it not a greater honour for any Chriftian to have his house to be a Bethel, a house of God, than a Beth-aven, an houfe of iniquity? Religious Families are dignified by the Apoftle with the title of Churches,Rom. 16.3.Greet Prifcilla & Aquila my helpers in Chrift Fefus, v.5. Likewise greet the Church that is in their houfe, Col.4.15. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Church which is in his house.

3. It will bring much comfort to us, both here and hereafter. What a joy muft it needs be to a-nyferious Chriftian, to fee his Family (through the bleffing of God on his care and labour) to thrive in Piety, and to walk in the way leading to Heaven? And with how much comfort may he leave them, when he comes to die, having this teftimony in his own bofome, that he hath been = faithfull this way? We know Eli was charged with, and feverely punished for the fins of his Children, 1 Sam.2.29. Because he had been too remiffe in reproving of them. I shall conclude this, with the words of Mr. Rogers, a learned Divine of our own. "Believe it, (faies "he) Every Governour of a Family is as deeply

charged with the fouls of those under his Go"vernment, as any Paftour is, with the fouls "of that Flock which is committed to his GC charge: Nor will the publick Ministry be

come

Chap. 10. "come fruitful, if that which is fown in pub"lick, be not watered in private, by conference, examination and good inftruction. "What can we more impute the unprofitable"neffe of our Miniftry to, than to Masters and "Parents neglect of their duties? You call our "Congregations our charge, and fo they are; "fo are your Families alfo your charge:Thus he. So much of the firft Particular, the Reasons why Governours of Families fhould be careful that thofe under their Government do faithfully ferve the Lord.

I come to the fecond, to give fome Directions for the right performance of this Duty.

I. Let Governours of Families begin at them. felves, labouring to reform what is amisse in themselves, that fo they may be exemplary in wifdom and Holineß to thefe under their care. Let them humbly beg of God thofe Graces and abilities that may fit them for the difcharging of their places. Inferiours mind more what fuperiours do, than what they say. He that walks diforderly himself, cannot expect to reform his children, or fervants, or keep his Family in order.

II. Let them be careful about the conftitution of their Families. Let them look well to it, that thofe they admit into their house,( as neer as they can gueffe) be hopeful and tractable, as to Religion, Pfal.101.v.6. Mine eies fhall be upon the faithful, that they may dwell with me; be that walketh in a

perfect

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