The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

Some are constant in Church-duties, perhaps with some superstitious strictness; but in family duties how neglective are they? They are for very strict discipline in the Church, and cannot communicate with any that wear not the same badge of sanctity which they affect: But in their families, what profaneness, carelessness and confusion is there? They can have family communion with the most ungodly servants, that will but be profitable to them. Dumb Ministers are their scorn; but to be dumb Parents and Masters to their children and servants, they can easily bear. Formal preaching and praying in the Church they exclaim against; but how formally do they pray at home, and catechize and instruct their family? If a Magistrate should forbid them to pray, or catechize, or instruct their families, they would account him an impious, odious persecutor▪ but they can neglect it ordinarily when none forbiddeth them, and never lay any such accusation on themselves.

Some are constant in Church-duties, perhaps with some superstitious strictness; but in family duties how neglective are they? They are for very strict discipline in the Church, and cannot communicate with any that wear not the same badge of sanctity which they affect: But in their families, what prophaneness, carelesness and confusion is there? They can have family communion with the most ungodly servants, that will but be profitable to them. Dumb Ministers are their scorn; but to be dumb Parents and Masters to their children and servants, they can easily bear. Formal preaching and praying in the Church they exclaim against; but how formally do they pray at home, and catechize and instruct their family? If a Magistrate should forbid them to pray, or catechize, or instruct their families, they would account him an impious, odious persecutor▪ but they can neglect it ordinarily when none forbiddeth them, and never lay any such accusation on themselves.

Some are much for the duties of Worship in private; but negligent of public Worship: and some are diligent in both, that make little scruple of living idly without a Calling, or doing the works of their Callings deceitfully and unprofitably. They are censorious of one that is negligent in Gods Worship, but censure not themselves (nor love to be censured by others) for being idle and negligent servants to their Masters; and omitting many an hours work, which was as truly their duty as the other. Yea when they are told of such duties as they love not (as obedience, labour, charity, patience, mortifying the flesh, &c.) their consciences are just as senseless, or as prejudiced, or quarrelsome, as the consciences of other men are against Religious exercises.