The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

If he had not seen Gods commandment, Abraham had gone beyond his commission; for it had been wilful murder, and he ought not to have obeyed but when the thing was lawful, Isaac was bound to submit himself to his father even unto death. So Christ was obedient to his father in the most base and painful thing of all, for what burden more contemptible then the burden of our sins, and to be hanged on the cross, mocked, and spitted on and buffeted? and what more painful, then to undergo the curse and plague of God? yet if he his father would have him suffer all this, he would not stand with him for such a matter but willingly submitted himself to the death of the cross. So that if the thing be lawful, though it be a thing of no credit and of much pain, yet if it be the fathers commandment, it is Gods commandment and, the child must obey; and by how much the thing is more base and contemptible, and more hard and painful; by so much he is a better child and shall have a greater reward, for in matters that be easy and pleasing, he doth serve himself; now a good child should serve his father; for ⟨p. 5⟩every christian child must be his fathers servant, but he that is undutiful and stub borne is a rebel against God. And as in other matters the parents are to be obeyed, so especially in marriage. As Isaac being a man of discretion of 40. years old, yet would not once go about to take a wife for himself, but was content to stand at his fathers choosing. And Jacob would not dispose of himself in marriage till Isaac and Rebecca had consulted upon the matter, and had directed him whether he should, and among whom he should chose his wife. Naomi being but a daughter in law, yet would not be at her own disposition, to take what husband liked her best, but was willing to be disposed by Naomi in matter of marriage especially. therefore children must give this honour to their parents, to think their fathers wiser and better able, to make choice themselves, and as in matters less weighty, so especially to take their counsel and be directed by them in this great matter that so nearly concerns their estate.

If he had not seene Gods commandement, Abraham had gon beyonde his commission; for it had beene willfull murder, and he ought not to haue obeyed but when the thing was lawfull, Isaac was bounde to submit himselfe to his father euen vnto death. So Christ was obedient to his father in the most base and painfull thinge of all, for what burden more contemptible then the burden of our sinnes, and to be hanged on the crosse, mockt, and spitted on and buffetted? and what more painfull, then to vndergoe the curse and plague of God? yet if he his father would haue him suffer all this, he would not stand with him for such a mattter but willingly submitted himselfe to the death of the crosse. So that if the thing be lawfull, though it be a thing of no credit and of much paine, yet if it be the fathers commandement, it is Gods commandement and, the child must obey; and by how much the thing is more base and contemptible, and more hard and painfull; by so much he is a better childe and shall haue a greater reward, for in matters that be easie and pleasing, hee doth serue himselfe; now a good child should serue his father; for