Evil rulers are whole some me dicines, man receiv- How profitable adversity is. corruption; and, last of all, lieth to healing plaisters, and maketh it whole. The physician, likewise, giveth purgations and drinks to drive out the disease, and then, with restoratives, bringeth health. Now if the sick resist the razor, the searching iron, and so forth, doth he not resist his own health, and is cause of his own death? So, likewise, is it of us, if we resist evil rulers, which are the rod and scourge wherewith God chastiseth us; the instruments wherewith God searcheth our wounds, and bitter drinks to drive out the sin and to make it appear, and caustics to draw out by the roots the core of the pox of the soul that fretteth inward. A Christian man, therefore, receiveth all things of the hand of God, both good and bad, both sweet and sour, both wealth and woe. If any person do me good, whether it be father, mother, and so forth, that receive I of God, and to God give thanks. For he gave wherewith, and gave a commandment, and moved his heart so to do. Adversity also receive I of the hand of God as an wholesome medicine, though it be somewhat bitter. Temptation and adversity do both kill sin, and also utter it. For though a Christian man knoweth every thing how to live, yet is the flesh so weak, that he can never take up his cross himself to kill and mortify the flesh. He must have another to lay it on his back. In many, also, sin lieth hid within, and festereth and rotteth inward, and is not seen; so that they think how they are good and perfect, and keep the law. As the young man (Matt. xix.) said, he had observed all of a child, and yet lied falsely in his heart, as the text following well declareth. When all is at peace, and no man troubleth us, we think that we are patient and love our neighbours as ourselves; but let our neighbour hurt us in word or deed, and then find we it otherwise. Then fume we, and rage, and set up the bristles, and bend ourselves to take vengeance. If we loved with godly love for Christ's kindness' sake, we should desire no vengeance, but pity him, and desire God to forgive and amend him, knowing well that no flesh can do otherwise than sin; except that God preserve him. Thou wilt say, What good doth such persecution and tyranny unto the righteous? First, it maketh them feel the working of God's Spirit in them, and that their faith is unfeigned. Secon- The greatdarily, I say that no man is so great a sinner, if he repent and believe, but that he is righteous in Christ and in the promises yet if thou look on the flesh, and unto the law, there is no man so perfect that is not found a sinner. Nor any man so pure that hath not somewhat to be yet purged. This shall suffice at this time as concerning obedience. BECAUSE that God excludeth no degree from his mercy; but whosoever repenteth, and believeth his promises, (of whatsoever degree he be of,) the same shall be partaker of his grace; therefore, as I have described the obedience of them that are under power and rule, even so will I, with God's help, (as my duty is,) declare how the rulers which God shall vouchsafe to call unto the knowledge of the truth, ought to rule. est sinner is righteous in Christ, and the promises. And the perfectest and holiest is a sinner in the law and the flesh. THE OFFICE OF A FATHER, AND HOW HE Rigour in parents towards their chil dren istor FATHERS, move not your children unto wrath, but bringing up The right of children. The destruction and marr dreu. mother, and at his commandment have we so long thus kindly brought thee up, and kept thee from all perils; he hath commanded thee also to obey us, saying, Children, obey thy father and mother. If thou meekly obey, so shalt thou grow both in the favour of God and man, and knowledge of our Lord Christ. If thou wilt not obey us at his commandment, then are we charged to correct thee; yea, and if thou repent not, and amend thyself, God shall slay thee by his officers, or punish thee everlastingly. Nurture them not worldly, and with worldly wisdom, saying, Thou shalt come to honour, dignity, promotion, ing of chil- and riches; thou shalt be better than such and such; thou shalt have three or four benefices, and be a great doctor or a bishop, and have so many men waiting on thee, and do nothing but hawk and hunt, and live at pleasure; thou shalt not need to sweat, to labour, or to take any pain for thy living, and so forth; filling them full of pride, disdain, and ambition, and corrupting their minds with worldly persuasions. Let the fathers and mothers mark how they themselves were disposed at all ages; and by experience of their own infirmities help their children, and keep them from occasions. Let them teach their children to ask marriages of their fathers and mothers. And let their elders provide marriages for them in season; teaching them also to know, that she is not his wife whom the son taketh, nor he her husband which the daughter taketh, without the consent and good will of their elders, or them that have authority over them. If their friends will not marry them, then are they not to blame if they marry themselves. Let not the fathers and mothers always take the utmost of their authority of their children; but at a time suffer with them, and bear their weaknesses, as Christ doth ours. Seek Christ in your children, in your wives, servants, and subjects. Father, mother, son, daughter, master, servant, king, and subject, be names in the worldly regiment. In Christ we are all one thing; none better knowledge than another, all brethren; and all must seek Christ, and The marriage of children without consent of their parents is unlawful. In Christ we are all servants, and he that hath is bound. And he that hath the our brother's profit in Christ. THE OFFICE OF AN HUSBAND AND HOW HE HUSBANDS, love your wives as Christ loved the congregation, and gave himself for it, to sanctify it and cleanse it. Men ought to love their wives, as their own bodies. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall continue with his wife, and shall be made both one flesh. See that every one of you love his wife even as his own body: All this saith Paul Eph. v. And Col. iii. he saith, Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter unto them. And Peter in the iiird chapter of his first Epistle, saith, Men, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, (that is according to the doctrine of Christ) giving reverence unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel; (that is, help her to bear her infirmities) and as unto them that are heirs also of the grace of life, that your prayers be not let. In many things God hath made the men stronger than the Why the women; not to rage upon them and to be tyrants unto them, but to help them to bear their weakness. Be cour- than the teous therefore unto them, and win them unto Christ, and overcome them with kindness, that of love they may obey the ordinance that God hath made between man and wife. Men ought to rule their God's word. wires by man is stronger woman. THE OFFICE OF A MASTER AND HOW HE OUGHT TO RULE. Teach thy servant to know after Christ's doctrine deal with him. Neither is PAUL (Eph. vith) saith: Ye masters do even the same things to them, (that is be master after the ensample and doctrine of Christ, as he before taught the servants to obey to their masters as to Christ) putting away threatenings (that is, give them fair words, and exhort them Christ, and kindly to do their duty; yea, nurture them as thy own sons with the Lord's nurture, that they may see in Christ a cause why they ought lovingly to obey) and remember (saith he) that your master also is in heaven. there any respect of persons with him; that is, he is indifferent and not partial: as great in his sight is a servant as a master. And in the iiird chapter to the Colossians, saith he: Ye masters do unto your servants that which is just and equal, remembering that ye also have a master in heaven. Give your servants kind words, food, raiment and learning. Be not bitter unto them, rail not on them, give them no cruel countenance: but according to the ensample and doctrine of Christ, deal with them. And when they labour sore, cherish them again. When ye correct them, let God's word be by, and do it with such good manner that they may see how that do it to amend ye them only, and to bring them to the way which God biddeth us walk in, and not to avenge yourselves, or to wreak your malice on them. If at a time through hastiness ye exceed measure in punishing, recompense it another way, and pardon them another time. Do all thing with God's word. |