~piritual P erfeElion. The acceptable Performance of a Duty, tn ufl depend upon its .fcafon. The Jleaut y of it .ts t,mp~ir'd, when done _o_ut of its proper time. I will infi~ _nce in one Duty very wfluenual upon 3 • Holy Ltte. VVe are commanded to J1latch ttnto Prayer that is to prefc:ve a Holy Frame of Spirit fuitablc to this Duty, and to redrtm ri'mt frorr: the Vantty and Jlofinels of the World for Prayer. This Duty is as necc~·ary for the Spiritual Life, as breat hing for the Natural : and ' tis a part of Wifdom fo to order ou r Affam; that we may_have chofCn H~urs for _communion with God. And we are eo watch in Prayer againft dlflraaion and mdevotwn, We arc commanded to drarv near to God w~th rev_ucnce And ~odly fear; for ~ur God is _a Co~J[t~tning_ Fire; t_o thofe who difparage Ills Majclly by Coldnols and Carclefnefs tn Ills Serv;ce. 1 here mull be a ll ritl Gua rd to prevent the excurfion of our Thoughts in Divine Worlbip; The Soul ll1ould afcend to God on wings of l'i re, with all poffible ardency of Alfeffions: 7 he ,elfeaual fervmt Prayer of .s rrg':' tcoru Man av.ttls much . Watchfulnefs refpe8s .both th;! ume and degrees of .our punes. \Ve arc comma~ded , as we have opportu~Jty, to do .~ood unto all Men , rfpwally to the boufhold of Fatth ;. and to {bm Merc7 wtth chwfu!nejJ. We lbould not lo[e the golden opportumty of rehev ing the ObjcCls of C hanty, and be diligent in our BuUncfS , and to cut off fuperfluous Expenccs, that we may be Ji. beral. \Ve fhould be careful to keep every Grace in its vigorous exercife . lnlborr, :::e ~~~)~~:, 1:~i~~~;,~~ ~~~eL~~en~~r~h~oB~~~t·~~ fi~b~;,rt ;~;i~;s 0 ~~~- ~~~ ~::tr~~ :g~~~~ much more rcafonable is it, that it lhould be a Soul to its fc lf, vigilant and aClive, to improve every Advantage for its Happinefs and .Perfe&ion ? 6. A due r.egard to d1c Duties of our fcveral Relations is very neceffary, in order to our pcrfeClmg of Holinels. Rel ations may be confider'd under three general Heads; Domellical, Sacred, Ctvtl. Domellical, between Husband and Wife, Parents and Children, Mallers and Servants. There is a genera l Duty that binds all Relations, and particular Relative to tbetr feveral !htes. There is Superiority in a Husband, Sovereignty in Parenrs, Authority in Mall:crs, but it mull be rcmper'd with Difcrcrion, Indulgence and Humanity, in the exerci[e of ir. The mutual Duty of Husband and Wtfe is Love , !wherein the Society, Sweetoels, and Felicity of Marriage confi lls. In this is included the bearing with the Infirmit ies of one another, that allays rhe fierce Paffions, that are the cau[c of Strife, and makes. the patient party better, The exercife of this AffcCiion is dillingui01'd ; the Love of the Husband is counfcUing and comforting, providing and protetling; the Love of the Wife, obfequious and affiUing. His Superiority and her Subject ion muf! be fwceten'd with Love. The Husband mull not be bitter, nor the Wife fowre. The Husband muft govern the Wife, as the Soul does the Body, with wifdom and tendernels. There is a fervile Subjection, from fear of Punilhmeot, or hope of Gain ; and a liberal Su ojeC.hon, full of freedom, from Love; and this is of Wives to Husbands, and of Children to Pa· relits. The Wife tho' inferior, is a fello,v•ruler with him over C hildren and Servants. She is fitbject as his Vicegerent, always preferving Love and Reverence in A lfctiion, and expreffiog Meeknefs and Obedience io Actions. . She as his Deputy, is to difpofe things for his Credit and Profit. Prudence is req uifite in both , that they may depofite their Cares in each others Boforns, and truA: their fc::crer: Thoughts as fecu rely as io their own Hearts. The principal Dury of Husbands and Wives is, a tender Care for the Good of each others Souls: The Husband tbould lead her m the way to Eternal Life, by his Counfel and Example; and the Wife by her humble and hol y Converfation, recommend Religion to hi s Mind and AlfeClioos. · The Soveraignty of Parents over Children muf! be mix'd with tender AlfeClions, not wii.h Rigour. \Ve are commanded, P.:trtnts pro·vok' not yot" Cbildren to !vratl1, lrjl tl-ry be difcou,.aged. The Duty of Children, is to reverence and obey the~r Pa · rents, in all things that are pleafi og to God. There can be no dunful Love wtthout Pear, nor Paterna l Authority without L_ovc. The rel~giou s and {ccular Go\•er_nrn~nt of the Family, is in the Husband and W1fe, who arc lt ke the rwo grea t Lummanes jo the Heavens, the one rules in the abfence of the other: llut 'ri s pr incipally in the Husband. This teftimony is given o ~ A~rah.:tm, that {0 cn~ca r 'd him to the Favour and Fricndfbi p of God, as to reveal h1s {ccret Counfcls to h1m; . I J.-norv AbrAham, that be will ' ommaml his Children .:tnd ServAnts, and Houfhold after lum, and tbq fl:a/1 kerp the T~: ~a~:r ~ 0~~· not be imperious, auflere and fierce, but manage his Power wi[h that Condefcemion and Lenity, with that cx.a~ performance of whar is due to his Servan~s, as becomes one that is accountable to rhe umverfal Maltcr, before whom he mufl Hand 10 an equal J..in ;· , And with whom there Uno M'~ftAn'e of Perfons . Servants mull b~n~~;~~~:: ·
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=