Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But besides this, it is the meaning of Moses also, that fathers should teach their children, and masters their servants, to do the like. For it is not enough for a faithful man, that he himself serve God: but he must also govern his household, assuring himself that it is committed to him to the same end, & that he is to yield account of it. And in deed, what reason is it that a man should have superiority over his neighbours that are creatures fashioned after the image of God as well as he, and that in the mean while God should be bereft of his right, and not be used as chief sovereign of all? What a presumption were that? Were it not an utter perverting of the order of nature? Then let us mark well, that here we be warned to rule our houses in such wise, as GOD may be served both of great and small. Let him to whom God hath given children, beware that he bring them up in the right religion, & let him do the like to his men and his maids, so as God may be the common father and master of them all. That was the thing whereof Moses intended to warn the Jews, & in their persons it behoveth us also to be taught at this day to do our duties, in that behalf. And therewithal we be exhorted to gentleness also. For although the master of a house have preeminence & authority over his household; yet notwithstanding his enjoying thereof, must not be to himself alone: but he must impart it to all his whole household: for else it is a separating of himself from the state of mankind, ⟨p. 508⟩& a barring of the common society which God hath set among men. Therefore there are here two points to be noted. The one is that whosoever hath charge of children and servants, must do his endeavour to lead them to god. And the other is, that all such as are set over others and have inferior persons under them in what state of subjection soever it be, ought to be kindhearted towards them, and not to reign over them with tyranny and cruelty, but to rule them with all gentleness,§10 so as they make them partakers of the benefits and gracious gifts which they have received at Gods hand.

But besides this, it is the meaning of Moses also, that fathers should teach their children, and masters their seruants, to do the like. For it is not ynough for a faithful man, that he himselfe serue God: but he must also gouerne his houshold, assuring himself that it is committed to him to the same end, & that he is to yeeld account of it. And in deede, what reason is it yt a man should haue superioritie ouer his neighbors yt are creatures fashioned after ye image of God as wel as he, and that in the meane while God should be bereft of his right, and not be vsed as chiefe soueraigne of all? What a presumption were that? Were it not an vtter peruerting of the order of nature? Then let vs marke well, that heere wee bee warned to rule our houses in such wise, as GOD may bee serued both of great and small. Let him to whome God hath giuen children, beware that he bring them vp in the right religion, & let him do the like to his men and his maides, so as God may be the common father and maister of them all. That was the thing whereof Moses intended to warne the Iewes, & in their persons it behoueth vs also to bee taught at this day to doe our duties, in yt behalfe. And therewithall wee be exhorted to gentlenes also. For although the maister of a house haue preheminence & authoritie ouer his houshold; yet notwithstāding his inioying thereof, must not be to himself alone: but he must impart it to al his whole houshould: for else it is a separating of himselfe from ye state of mankind,