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

The third duty of Children is thankfulness to their parents and consisteth especially in two things. First, in relieving their parents, when they shall be in want; if the parent be blind the child must be an eye unto him; if he be lame he must be a staff unto him, if he stand in need of any thing, the child must to his power help, and succour him. And this duty indeed the very law of nature doth require, for the father hath paid for it before hand, and it is but a due debt; for when the child was borne naked without any friends and could not help himself nor put one morsel of meat into his own mouth, nor hang a rag on his own body to keep him warm, who pitied him, who relieved him? were not the parents then instead of all limbs unto him: and had much care and fear for his sake, afore he came to this estate wherein he is now? were it not then a shameful ingratitude in him? and were he not worse then a beast, if he would not have care to recompense all these kindnesses and to pay so due a debt? So the holy Ghost commands children. To be like the stroke. Now the manner of the stroke is this, that when the old one is grown weak and cannot fly a broad for himself, the young storks will help ⟨p. 6⟩him, and the old stroke fares as well, & is as largely provided for by the travail of the young, as when he was in his full and perfect strength. So Joseph dealt with Jacob, when Jacob was in want and his son had plenty; when his father sent money to buy corn the son would not take it but gave him corn freely, and whereas five years of famine were behind, he sent for him, and had great care to bring him thither, and having brought him thither, was so careful to provide for him, and to administer to him whatsoever he had need of, as that Jacob did never fare better and with more ease in all the time of greatest plenty, then he did, when the whole world, was affamished for want of bread. for before he sent to the market for it, and there he must buy it for his money, but now, that he was come to Joseph in dearth, he needs not be at so great pains or cost, for it is said, He did put meat into his mouth; that is, he was a good tender hearted nurse to his father, and his fathers family, and as careful that nothing should be lacking to them as the mother for the child, that will even put her teat into the child's mouth.

The third dutie of Children is thankefulnesse to their parents and consisteth especially in two things. First, in releiuing their parents, when they shall be in want; if the parent be blinde the child must be an eye vnto him; if he be lame he must be a staffe vnto him, if he stand in neede of any thing, the childe must to his power helpe, and succour him. And this dutie indeed the verie law of nature doth require, for the father hath paide for it before hand, and it is but a due debt; for when the child was borne naked without any friends and could not helpe himselfe nor put one morsell of meate into his owne mouth, nor hang a ragge on his own bodie to keepe him warme, who pittied him, who releiued him? were not the parents then insteede of all limmes vnto him: and had much care and feare for his sake, afore he came to this estate wherein he is now? were it not then a shamefull ingratitude in him? and were he not worse then a beast, if he would not haue care to recompence all these kindnesses and to pay so due a debt? So the holy Ghost commands children. To be like the stroke. Now the manner of the stroke is this, that when the olde one is growne weake and cannot flye a broade for himselfe, the young storkes will helpe