The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

And therefore Parents, and Masters, and Governors of Families had need to be reformers both of themselves, and all under their charge; for besides, that this is the most compendious and safest way to State-Reformation, and Church-Reformation. Every Family being a kind of a little Kingdom of it self, and a little Church of it self, wherein the Master is both King, Priest, and Prophet; besides this, there is the sound of this Argument, and reason to alarm them (viz.) as they desire to have their souls and consciences free from the guilt of other mens sins.

And therefore Parents, and Masters, and Governours of Families had need to bee reformers both of themselves, and all under their charge; for besides, that this is the most compendious and safest way to State-Reformation, and Church-Reformation. Every Family being a kinde of a little Kingdome of it self, and a little Church of it self, wherein the Master is both King, Priest, and Prophet; besides this, there is the sound of this Argument, and reason to allarum them (viz.) as they desire to have their souls and consciences free from the guilt of other mens sins.

Plato seeing a child do mischief in the streets, went forthwith and corrected his Father for it; that Father that does not correct his child when he does amiss, is justly corrected for his faults, and it is the pattern of Gods judicial proceedings, as he visits the iniquities of the Fathers upon the Children, who imitate them: So he visits the iniquities of the Children upon the Fathers, who countenance and indulge them. As Jacob was countable to Laban for the whole flock, not a Sheep or a Lamb lost or torn, but it was required at his hands, Gen. 31.39. Thus must Family Governors be accountable to God for every Lamb in the fold, for every child in the family, for every servant in the house, Luke 16.2. Says God to him, Give an account of thy Stewardship, thou mayest be no longer Steward: So will God one day cry aloud in thine ears, Quintili vare read legions, Husband, ⟨p. 178⟩