The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…

not but that the Wives duty also is to love, Titus 2.4. and so was she, as loving, as dutiful, answering the Apostles charge there given, proving by the discharge of her Lords command in her particular Relation, as well as in other points, that she had truly received Jesus Christ her Saviour & Lord. As for Children, it were a comely sight, to see profession of faith in Christ adorned with dutifulness, obedience and honour towards the Father, and especially towards the Mother: It was a custom not long since, but now it is almost worn out, for Children going to bed, and in morning, to ask their Parents blessing upon the knee; that Ceremony did much tend to keep up Parents superiority, and keep Children in mind of their duty: since that hath been left off, most Children have left off that reverent respect they owe to Parents. For Servants, those who do answer the Lords Rules, let them have their commendation, but never I think was there such a complaint of Servants, since the Gospel was known, as is in these days: To shut up this Head, I do not say, but some have a hundred times more difficulty to quit their places than others have; with some it is nothing, but others have temptations enough, especially in the relations of Husband and Wife; some I do heartily pity, when I see what strange kind of Creatures they have to love, scarce one good quality in a Wife; He that can err always in ber love, Prov. ⟨p. 269⟩5.19. I count him an Orthodox man for such an error; I know no Orthodox error but that: I think they have obtained great mercy from the Lord, who can thus love unlovely objects: So on the other side, what imperious Tyrants have some Wives to obey? what pitiful Idols have some to reverence? I do not look on a Christians grappling with, and getting above his special lust, to be an easy matter; I do not think it so easy to discharge the duties of particular relations, especially for some; but this I say, he that is not so loosed from his special lust, that he receiveth Christ as King, to make an eternal separation of that lust from his Soul; he, or she, that makes not conscience of the discharge of the duty of their particular relation, be it Husband, Wife, Child, or Servant, &c. it is the thing they are labouring after, humbled under their miscarriages, and improving Christ to this end;