The new birthThe nevv birth

withal, beseeching the offender to remember himself, and afore it be too late, to reform himself. If a man (I say) shall thus do, he must be a double scorner (even one that hath settled himself in the seat of the scornful), that shall not be somewhat wrought upon by words so sweetly and wisely uttered. And thus must all regenerate persons (as they have occasion) labour the regenerating of others by good life, and good speeches. Now I show governors of families, how they should seek the regenerating of those that are under their government.¹ Their care must extend it self, partly to those of years, partly to their infants. For those of years: first, they must see God served in their own families; learning of him that said, I and mine house will serve the Lord. Now God is served in the family by reading of the Scriptures, and invocation of the name of God: for seeing God hath united them into the body of one family, and made them a common body; therefore he doth require a common service of them, that they may all join in doing homage to him, to whom all are servants; remembering, that even the families, as well as the kingdoms, are cursed, ⟨p. 151⟩that call not upon the name of God. Is the Master commanded to whet the Law of God upon his children as he sits in his house? and must it not needs follow, that he must join with them in calling upon that God, whose law that is? When Daniel did pray in his house, it seemeth probable to me, that if it had been a private prayer of himself alone, no man could have known it, his enemies could not have found him at it. It was therefore rather an household prayer, then a closet prayer; in regard of which those enemies of his did seek an advantage against him. And seeing Esther took her maids with her in the extraordinary prayers joined with fasting: we have little reason to think, but that she took them to her also in her daily and ordinary prayers. Zechariah tells of them upon whom the spirit of grace and prayer should be poured, that they should mourn (and this mourning was not without praying) every family apart, and their wives apart. Behold an exercise of the family apart, from other families; and of each member of the family (the wife put for the rest synecdochically) apart from other members of it.

withall, beseeching the offender to remember himselfe, and afore it bee too late, to reforme himselfe. If a man (I say) shall thus doe, he must bee a double scorner (euen one that hath setled himselfe in the seat of the scornful), that shal not be somwhat wrought vpon by words so sweetly and wisely vttered. And thus must all regenerate persons (as they haue occasion) labour the regenerating of others by good life, and good speeches. Now I shew gouernours of families, how they should seeke the regenerating of those that are vnder their gouernment.