Consolation to religious parents whether they be rich or poor: whether their children be dead or living, whether the living be godly or sinful: If they have wealth, they may hope it shall be for the use of their sons or daughters: if not, that the all-sufficient God will provide for them sufficiently without their help or substance. If they be dead, they have great encouragement to comfort themselves in the persuasion of their salvation. If they live, though we should die and depart hence, yea and leave them in afflictions and distresses, yet this comfort we have, that as the mercy of God to our selves was not assured unto us for term of life, but eternally for evermore: no more is his goodness to ours to cease with our life, or be determined at our death. Poor lame Mephibosheth had a father living, yea an everliving father that appointed him to be well provided for, and ⟨p. 77⟩maintained, when good Jonathan that begot him was slain and gone. The godly poor Prophet that left his wife so far in debt, that neither she was able to satisfy it, nor the creditor willing to be satisfied, without taking of her sons to be his bondmen; yet had taken order before his death for the payment of debt, for liberty of sons, for maintenance of family, namely by possessing the constant favour of God, which both conveyed him to 1heaven, and remained with his household here in earth. If they should be wicked, yet the Lord hath grace enough and power enough to make them good. It is without trouble or charge to himself, or hurt to his creatures, and why should they not then both earnestly pray for it, and constantly wait for it? what if it be not wrought at first? yet it may be effected at the last: and so long as they have a natural life, so long may their friends hope for their everlasting life. Jacobs sons were not all godly the first year, nor in many years, and yet not without goodness in their latter years. And so stood the case with Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, and many other holy Christians.
Consolation to religious parents whether they bee rich or poore: whether their children be dead or liuing, whether the liuing be godly or sinfull: If they haue wealth, they may hope it shall be for the vse of their sonnes or daughters: if not, that the al-sufficient God will prouide for them sufficiently without their helpe or substance. If they be dead, they haue great incouragement to comfort themselues in the perswasion of their saluation. If they liue, though wee should die and depart hence, yea and leaue them in afflictions and distresses, yet this comfort we haue, that as the mercie of God to our selues was not assured vnto vs for tearme of life, but eternally for euermore: no more is his goodnes to ours to cease with our life, or bee determined at our death. Poore lame Mephibosheth had a father liuing, yea an euerliuing father that appointed him to be well prouided for, and ⟨p. 77⟩maintained, when good Ionathan that begot him was slaine and gone. The godly poore Prophet that left his wife so far in debt, that neither she was able to satisfie it, nor the creditor willing to bee satisfied, without taking of her sonnes to bee his bondmen; yet had taken order before his death for the payment of debt, for libertie of sonnes, for maintenance of familie, namely by possessing the constant fauour of God, which both conueyed him to 1heauen, and remained with his houshold here in earth. If they should be wicked, yet the Lord hath grace enough and power enough to make them good. It is without trouble or charge to himselfe, or hurt to his creatures, and why should they not then both earnestly pray for it, and constantly waite for it? what if it be not wrought at first? yet it may bee effected at the last: and so long as they haue a naturall life, so long may their friends hope for their euerlasting life. Iacobs sonnes were not all godly the first yeere, nor in many yeeres, and yet not without goodnes in their latter yeeres. And so stood the case with Manasse the sonne of Ezekiah, and many other holie Christans.
- 12. King. 4.
