A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

Yea and for Parricides the old Romans had a strange and unusual punishment, in culeum dejicere, to put them alive into a great leather Sack, made of an Ox-Hide, with a live Dog, a Cock, a Viper, and an Ape, at first it was with Serpents, (after the murderers of Parents had been made bloody with scourging) then sewed up close, and cast into Tiber, or the next River, that whiles alive they might begin to want the use of all the Elements, not having the benefit of the Heavens while they lived, nor the burial of the Earth when dead. This shows how odious this crime was in the height of it to mere Heathen men also. Be sure the beginning of it in the want of natural affection is very displeasing to God^(y); but the obedience I have been describing is very amiable to his eye: It keeps from evil: and disposeth to reverence God himself^(z): It helps to be good Subjects, and conduceth to the welfare of our Country. God makes choice discoveries of himself to obedient ones in filial duties, as he did eminently to Jacob^(a), being peculiarly present with them, who do choose the things that please him, and lay hold of his Covenant^(b), as those Children do, who obey their Parents in all things in the Lord. All encouragement lies in this; obedience is well-pleasing to the Lord. But it is more than time, now I have put Children upon their duties following the Apostle, that I come to

Yea and for Parricides the old Romans had a strange and unusual punishment, in culeum dejicere, to put them alive into a great leather Sack, made of an Ox-Hide, with a live Dog, a Cock, a Viper, and an Ape, at first it was with Serpents, (after the murtherers of Parents had been made bloody with scourging) then sewed up close, and cast into Tiber, or the next River, that whiles alive they might begin to want the use of all the Elements, not having the benefit of the Heavens while they liv'd, nor the burial of the Earth when dead. This shews how odious this crime was in the height of it to mere Heathen men also. Be sure the beginning of it in the want of natural affection is very displeasing to God