A Body of Practical Divinity

Quest. Who is meant here by Father?

Ans. Father (Verbum [Greek or Hebrew]) is taken several ways; the Political, Ancient, Spiritual, Economical, Natural.

Ans. Father (Verbum 〈non-Latin alphabet〉) is taken several ways; the Political, Ancient, Spiritual, Oeconomical, Natural.

First, The Political Father, the Magistrate. He is the Father of his Country, he is to be an Encourager of Virtue, a Punisher of Vice, a Father to the Widow and Orphan. Such a Father was Job, Chap. 29.16. I was a Father to the Poor, and the Cause which I knew not I searched out. And as Magistrates are Fathers, so especially the King, who is the Head of Magistrates, is a Political Father. He is placed as the Sun among the lesser Stars. The Scripture calls Kings Fathers. Isa. 49.23. Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers: They are to nurse up their Subjects in Piety, by their good Edicts and Examples; and to nurse them up in Peace and Plenty. Such nourishing Fathers were David, Hezekiah, Josiah, Constantine, Theodosius. It is happy for a People who have such nursing Fathers, whose Breasts milk Comfort to their Children. These Fathers are to be Honoured. For,

First, The Political Father, the Magistrate. He is the Father of his Countrey, he is to be an Encourager of Vertue, a Punisher of Vice, a Father to the Widdow and Orphan. Such a Father was Iob, Chap. 29.16. I was a Father to the Poor, and the Cause which I knew not I searched out. And as Magistrates are Fathers, so especially the King, who is the Head of Magistrates, is a Political Father. He is placed as the Sun among the lesser Stars. The Scripture calls Kings Fathers.