The Fountain of Life Opened

Yield your selves therefore cheerfully to obey all that which they lawfully enjoin, and take heed that black character fixed on the Heathens who know not God, be not found upon you, disobedient to Parents, Rom. 1.30. Remember your disobedience to their just commands rises higher, much higher, than an affront to their persons, and authority; it's disobedience to God himself whose commands second, and strengthen theirs upon you.

Yield your selves therefore chearfully to obey all that which they lawfully enjoin, and take heed that black character fixed on the Heathens who know not God, be not found upon you, disobedient to Parents, Rom. 1.30. Remember your disobedience to their just commands rises higher, much higher, than an affront to their persons, and authority; it's disobedience to God himself whose commands second, and strengthen theirs upon you.

Fourthly, Submission to their Discipline, and rebukes is also your duty, Heb. 12.9. We had Fathers of our flesh that corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Parents ought not to abuse their authority.¹ Cruelty in them is a great sin, but wrath and rebellion in a Child, against his Parents, is monstrous. It's storied of Aelian, that having been abroad, at his return, his Father asked him what he had Learned since he went from him; he answered, you will know shortly. I have learned to bear your anger quietly, and submit to what you please to inflict. Two considerations should especially mould others into the like frame, especially to their godly Parents. The end for which, and the manner in which ⟨p. 422⟩they manifest their anger to their Children. Their end is to save your souls from Hell. They judge it better for you to hear the voice of their anger, than the terrible voice of the wrath of God. To feel their hand than his. They know if you fall into the hands of the living God; you will be handled in another manner.