A plain and familiar exposition of the ninth and tenth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the ninth and tenth chapters of the Prouerbs…

Thirdly, the happy condition of gracious and godly children §3themselves doth procure to the parents much consolation: for besides their spiritual promotion and dignity, being made the sons of God, and kingly heirs of everlasting glory, the favour and blessing of God doth usually appear towards them for the things of this life: when rebellious and wicked children have the curse of God upon them, doing mischief and hurt, and receiving the reward of it, by shame and infamy, by debts and arrearages, by slight and lurking, by bonds and imprisonment, and oftentimes by an ignominious death and destruction.

Thirdly, the happy condition of gracious and godly children §3themselues doth procure to the parents much consolation: for besides their spirituall promotion and dignitie, being made the sonnes of God, and kingly heires of euerlasting glory, the fauour and blessing of God doth vsually appeare towards them for the things of this life: when rebellious and wicked children haue the curse of God vpon them, doing mischiefe and hurt, and receiuing the reward of it, by shame and infamy, by debts and arearages, by slight and lurking, by bonds and imprisonment, and oftentimes by an ignominious death and destruction.

Fourthly, wise children yield matter of comfort to their parents §4in being officious unto them, and using all good behaviour towards them: for they are most forward to obey their commandments, they are most cheerful to relieve their necessities: they are most faithful and provident to preserve their life, and health, and welfare. In which respect the Scripture compareth them to arrows or any other weapons, whereby ⟨p. 48⟩men may be defended. Psal. 127. 4. And as they are prest and ready to perform every duty that is required of them, so will they also carefully regard their parents dealings towards them: the father giveth counsel, and the son is directed by it: the father giveth rebuke and the son trembleth at it: the father giveth correction, and the son doth humbly submit himself unto it. Now at the hands of a foolish child, what is to be expected, but folly: contempt of commandments and counsel: murmuring against admonition and reproofs: resistance against correction and chastisements? if their parents be in wants, they are ashamed of them, and think it an intolerable burden to be charged with them: and so shorten their days by opprobrious and hard usage: if they have wealth, they seek to make a spoil of them: if they be like to leave them patrimony or inheritance, no enemy doth so much desire their death: if they be simple and want understanding, they either use contemptuously to check and sb them, or else to mock and deride them. If they declare their wisdom and true piety, they show then bitterness against their godly zeal and sincere profession.