s.Commaîzd. vpon the Commanclements. 55 Quefì. How prooue you that MaOrs are Fathers to and otter theirferxantr ? Anfw. For the office and duety, no man that is godly will doubt (I h ope) that the Lord hath blefled himwith that fuperiority aboutothers,not that he fhould rule as a tyrant °tier them, but to lone,cherifh, and defend them etien as a Father his chil- dren, they dooing him true and faithful( fcruice. And for the name it felfe betides a number other proofes , that plaine place warranteth it in the booke öf the Kinges, where Naamans feruants come vnto him and fay, Father, if the Prophet had cors.- t Kin maundfd thee agroat thing , aouldell thou not hake done it i' Seehòw the fpiritofGod g , giueth to maifters the title of Fathers. . Qte[l. what prefrription is there in the worde for feruantes dxetYes towards their frfaiflers ? anfw. Firf} fee the wordes ofPaul to the Ephefans : So-mantel bee obedient to them that are yoxr Mai fiers according to the He/h, with feare and tremb / in fingleneffe Ephef..g. ofyour heartes,as'intoChr ,notwithferuice to the eye as men pleafers, but as the fir- 'toms ofChr /I doing thewill ofgod front the heart, wtthgood will firming the Lord andnot men, and knoweye that whatfoeuer good thingcny man doth, that fame fha/lhee receiutof the Lord, whether he be bound or free. Secondly,weigh well the fame Apoftles (peach to Timm, Let feruants be fxbieffto their maifler;, andpleafe them in all thinget,nacan- Tir,2.9. leering eeeame,neither picker' ,but that they Phew allgood fatthfulnefe,that they may adorne the doltrine of God our Sauioxr in all thing's. Ag aine to the C'oliofians moll notably fpeaketh the fame Paul faying : Seruantes be obedient to them that are your- maifiers according to the f e/h in all :hinges, not with qye feruieeas menpleafers, but in fingleneffe of Cola ;.2 s, heartfearing God : and whatfoeucryou doe, the it heartily, as to the Lordand floreo moM Lrowing that of the Lord yre /hallreceiuethereward of the inheritance for yet (true the ord Chrifl, The fame counlel giueth Peter alfo,addiug that not onely to thelouing, kinde and courteous maifler,but euen to the froward alfo,of feruants this duetymuff bee performed. And marke this well I btfeech yyou , becaufrman feruantes take their maiflers vnkindneffe for an excufe of their difobedfence or infidelity in their feruices, which indeedc muff not be fd, faiethPeter; but bee they-netter fo froward, yet we muff doe all duety it wee be feruants, and cues ioy heartily in that croffe, that notwithflanding our faithful( and painefull duety, yet wee fuller vnkinde wordes, Cower and feurrelookes with fuch like at' their handes. Porweferuenot them,bur GOD in them, laide the places before cited i and what good thing fdeuer we doe, we (ball receiue it at our good Gods handesagaine affuredly what contempt ¡bestir they (hew a of vs, calling vs offvnrewarded, yea euen with hatred,'peraduenture for ourgood tvil.s, as often it falleth out. Ofweete and muff fweete comfort for all fer- names. What Bony heart Both not euen melt at theconfderation of this gracious nature of the Lord, that if-1 bee a feruant, and honotirhlth in that mamy eallingby trued faithfull,paitieftdl and lottirgferuice toniymailler and mifttelfe, be they neuer fo fower, fowayward, fo vnkinde, fo bitter fo without either difcrètion to difcernea good feruant, or confcience to reward him : yet will my God, I fay neuer forfake Mee, but returne into my bofome with his bleffing mytrite dealing, liuing and mea- ning,mofl'affuredly, and markt the proofe and pra6life of the fame. upon Jacob and lofeph, with others,as you read them. Stand therefore in flrength, (crue with tom fort, flippenotfromyourcallingforwantOfre' aid, Wen* Qifity fettle toconti_ nut; The Lords wordeispalllLn, biaptornifeis out, he wil'ronfiderand recom- pence all true feruantes, feare it not, doubt it not, but cleaue to the Lord, and when euer any fnubbes and checks in worde Or countenance vhdefetutd arïfe, fay in your heart with Dasid cheerefully, O Lord 6.412rd is the man that puttethhii troll in thee. Pualg 4. ,Zue 1. What fay you ofpareñrsinrefpelfefbenetlts? Àn w. I muff ncedes fay they are great y to be honored. and truely loued againe, whole lone and-affeffionbath broken out in-fruites to vs ward. For ingratitude be- fore God and man is hateful]. And bée that renardetheudl forgeod; cuillfha/tnexer Pre, ty.II. depart from his houfe, faith Salomon, ' Rue* 'iIbiticproose jots; thee under the title o fFather andMother aide men andelde women
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