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…

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 s••b 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.

Fourthly, wise children yeeld matter of comfort to their parents §4in being officious vnto them, and vsing all good behauiour towards them: for they are most forward to obay their commandements, they are most cheerefull to releeue their necessities: they are most faithfull and prouident to preserue their life, and health, and welfare. In which respect the Scripture compareth them to arrowes or any other weapons, whereby ⟨p. 48⟩men may be defended.