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A letter sent to Master A.B. from the most godly and learned preacher I.B.…

Name: A letter sent to Master A.B. from the most godly and learned preacher I.B.…
Author: John Bradford

A letter sent to Master A.B. from the most godly and learned preacher I.B. in which is set forth the authority of parents upon their children, for giving of correction unto them.A letter sent to Master A.B. from the most godly and learned preacher I.B. in which is set forth the authoritie of parentes vpon their children, for gyuing of correction vnto them.

John Bradford 1510?–1555London : H. Jackson, Anno Domini. 1548 i.e. 1584?

[20] p. · 2.8k words · STC 3495.7 · ESTC S124645

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A Letter sent to Master A. B. from the most godly and learned Preacher I. B. In which is set forth the authority of Parents upon their children, for giving of correction unto them.

A Letter sent to Master A. B. from the most godly and learned Preacher I. B. In which is set forth the authoritie of Parentes vpon their children, for gyuing of correction vnto them.

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With an addition of a Sermon of Repentance annexed thereunto.

With an addition of a Sermon of Repentance annexed therevnto.

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Anno Domini. 1548.

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To his loving Friend and Cousin, Master A. B.

To his louing Friend and Cosyn, Mayster A. B.

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Title as printed: A letter sent to Master A.B. from the most godly and learned preacher I.B. in which is set forth the authority of parents upon their children, for giving of correction unto them.A letter sent to Master A.B. from the most godly and learned preacher I.B. in which is set forth the authoritie of parentes vpon their children, for gyuing of correction vnto them.
Author: John Bradford 1510?–1555
Place: London
Year: 1584
Imprint: [London : H. Jackson], Anno Domini. 1548 [i.e. 1584?]
Size: [20] p.
Words: 2,793
Catalogue: STC 3495.7 · ESTC S124645
Text: EEBO-TCP A73542

Passages: 12
Sections: 2

Title page

The author

John Bradford 1510?–1555

ReformersEngland

Preacher and martyr.

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Grace and peace in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, be with you and all yours. I am very much grieved, to hear of those afflictions of mind, which do so greatly trouble and appassionate you, and my dear Cousin your wife, for the disobedience of your son towards you. And specially for that you stand in some doubt with your self, in respect of his riper years now, whether you should give him such sharp correction, as without which, there is little hope of his good reformation: he being now entered into the age of twenty and above. Truly you must take this, to be a just punishment sent from God unto you: in that you have heretofore, so carelessly let fall the reins of his government out of your own hands, and laid the same so loosely in the neck of your youthful son, permitting him without chastisement, to do what he would: ⟨image 3⟩and to follow the lewd affections of his own rash will and pleasures. I did always much fear and mistrust, that this your overmuch sufferance, would breed and bring forth at the length his great hinderance, much discomfort to your self, and heaps of sorrow to all us your faithful friends & kinsfolks. For who seeth not, that in all things it is most plain and evident, both to men of judgement and learning, but chiefly to men of wisdom and experience, that youth and young things, always have been, be, and ever will be such and the like, as in and by their education they are taught and framed. Yea, it is most commonly and in manner continually seen, that nature by the power and strength of education, is oft times utterly changed and altered to the contrary, the history of Socrates doth approve it: the memory of Balenus doth throughly confirm it: and even in our own time and age, it is so fully witnessed, as it needeth no great argument to set ⟨image 3⟩forth the same. I me self have seen a very mongrel Cur, trained up and made to the hurt Deere, so excellent, so perfect and so good, as that he was bought and sold for xx. angels between two brethren. This did education put into him against nature. Again I have seen a most fair and beautiful hound, and even of the best kind, being bred and brought up to sleep and lodge in a knights Chamber, and to wait upon him there:

GRace and peace in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, be wyth you and all yours. I am very much grieued, to heare of those afflictions of mynde, which doe so greatly trouble and appassionate you, and my deare Cosin your wyfe, for the disobedience of your sonne towards you. And specially for that you stande in some doubt wyth your selfe, in respect of his ryper yeres nowe, whether you should giue him such sharpe correction, as wythout which, there is little hope of his good reformation: he being nowe entred into the age of twentie and aboue. Truely you must take this, to be a iust punishment sent from God vnto you: in that you haue heretofore, so careleslye let fall the reynes of his gouernment out of your own hands, and layd the same so loosely in the neck of your youthful sonne, permitting him without chastisment, to do what he would: ⟨image 3⟩and to followe the lewde affections of his owne rashe will and pleasures. I did alwayes much feare and mistrust, that this your ouermuch suffraunce, woulde bréede and bring forth at the length his great hinderance, much discomforte to your selfe, and heapes of sorrow to al vs your faithful friends & kinsfolkes. For who séeth not, that in all things it is moste playne and euydent, both to men of iudgemente and learning, but chiefely to men of wisedome and experience, that youth and yong things, alwayes haue bene, bée, and euer wilbe such and the like, as in and by their education they are taught and framed. Yea, it is most commonly and in manner continually séene, that nature by the power and strength of education, is oft tymes vtterly chaunged and altered to the contrarye, the history of Socrates doth approoue it: the memorye of Balenus doth throughlye confyrme it: and euen in oure owne tyme and age, it is so fully witnessed, as it néedeth no great argument to set ⟨image 3⟩forth the same. I me selfe haue séene a very mungrell Curre, traynde vp and made to the hurte Déere, so excellent, so perfite and so good, as that he was bought and soulde for xx. angels betwene two brethren. This did education put into him agaynst nature. Againe I haue séene a moste fayre and bewtifull hounde, and euen of the best kynde, being bred and brought vp to sléepe and lodge in a knights Chamber, and to wayte vppon him there:

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hath utterly refused to hunt, or to follow the chase according to his kind, yea, though he was beaten unto it from his masters heels right sharply. It is beyond all belief, what a wonderful great force and power in all things hath education. So it is most certain, that if there be due care and diligence had and used, that virtuous and good behaviour be taught and lovingly cherished: and lewd and loose demeanour forbidden and sharply punished: the child which is always sure, to taste and receive the great pleasure ⟨image 4⟩of the first, and not to escape for no cause the bitter pains of the second, will always no doubt gladly embrace the one, and willingly fly the other. Wherefore I conclude, that if you had brought up your son with care and diligence, to rejoice in the fear of God, to take pleasure in meekness and humility, to delight in obedience towards his Parents: and on the other side to be afraid to do evil, to shun disobedience, and to fear the smart of correction: you should then have felt those comforts, which happy Parents receive from their good and honest children: and never have known those sorrows, which now oppress your heart, for the grief of your unruly son. But will you know the root and cause of all this? Alas even your self, and my silly Cousin your wife, carried on with a fond love and a foolish affection, which evermore falleth out to be the child's utter destruction: you both have suffered him, to pass on pleasantly in his own delights: ⟨image 4⟩you have permitted him, to run the course of his own will: you have foolishly forborne, to spend the sharp rods of correction, upon the naked flesh of his loins: you have fondly pitied, to spill some blood of his body, with the sharp stripes of chastisement: & what have ye wrought thereby? you have preserved his skin from breaking, his blood from spilling, and his loins from smarting. A three halfpenny matter, yea though his skin had been broken in pieces, though his blood had run down in streams, and though his scourged loins had smarted forty days after. For now by forbearance of this which is nothing, you have put your son in hazard of utter confusion: you have heaped your own discomfort and lamentation: yea, you have endangered your utter deep damnation.

hath vtterly refused to hunte, or to followe the chase according to his kinde, yea, thoughe he was beaten vnto it from his maysters héeles right sharplye. It is beyonde all beliefe, what a wonderfull great force and power in all things hath education. So it is most certaine, that if there be due care and diligence had and vsed, that vertuous and good behauyour be taught and louingly cherished: and lewd and loose demeanor forbidden and sharply punished: the childe which is alwaies sure, to tast and receiue the great pleasure ⟨image 4⟩of the fyrst, and not to escape for no cause the bitter paynes of the seconde, will alwayes no doubt gladly imbrace the one, and wyllingly flye the other. Wherfore I conclude, that if you had brought vp your sonne with care and dilligence, to reioyce in the feare of God, to take pleasure in méeknesse and humylity, to delight in obedience towards his Parents: and on the other side to be afrayde to do euill, to shun disobedience, and to feare the smarte of correction: you should then haue felte those comfortes, which happye Parentes receyue from their good and honest children: and neuer haue knowne those sorrowes, which nowe oppresse your harte, for the griefe of your vnruly sonne. But will you know the roote and cause of all this? Alas euen your self, and my siely Cosin your wyfe, caried on with a fonde loue and a foolish affection, which euermore falleth out to be the childes vtter destruction: you both haue suffered him, to passe on pleasauntly in his owne delights: ⟨image 4⟩you haue permitted hym, to runne the course of his own will: you haue foolishly forborne, to spende the sharpe rods of correction, vpon the naked fleshe of hys loynes: you haue fondly pyttied, to spylle some bloud of his bodye, with the sharpe strypes of chastisment: & what haue ye wrought thereby? you haue preserued his skyn from breaking, hys bloud from spylling, and his loynes from smarting. A three halfpeny matter, yea though hys skin had bene broken in péeces, though his blood had run downe in streames, and though his scourged loynes had smarted forty dayes after. For now by forberaunce of this which is nothing, you haue put your sonne in hazarde of vtter confusion: you haue heaped your owne discomforte and lamentation: yea, you haue endaungered your vtter déepe damnation.

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For be you most assured, that before the Lord you shall give account of such careless and negligent bringing up of your children, so much to their own destruction, ⟨image 5⟩and when they perish for want of that rod of correction, which is committed unto you, and put into your hands, only to the end and intent, that you should use it for their chastisement and good, assuredly their death and damnation will be required at your hands, and you shall answer as well for their bodies, as for their souls, in that last day of judgement, before the Tribunal seat of GOD. But I hear, that now you weep and wail bitterly for that which is past: you find your own folly now: you repent you of your extreme fondness and foolish pity heretofore: and if your son were in his tender years again: you say that then you would chastise him with all severe scourges and castigation. Behold how one great folly doth accompany an other, and that greater then the first. Good Lord, how wonderfully are you blinded in that, which is more clear than is the light of the noon day. Your son is now of twenty years old and ⟨image 5⟩more: Is he therefore free from the rod of correction? Is he therefore now not subject to the stripes & scourges of his father? Is he therefore not to be stripped naked, & to be beaten and whipped, until you have broken even all the skin of his body, spilt the blood of his loins in abundance, and given him so many thousand scourges, as that he may neither lye nor sit without pain in forty days after? Nay he is nothing at all free from these things. For all this is most fit to be done, and he is to be haled home with violence, and whether he will or not to be taught to obey, by the smart of his loins, and to be trained to his duty by the pains of his scourges. For when gentle lenitives will do no good, to an old sore over long neglected: you know that Corrosives are to be applied, & though always they put the patient to great pains, yet are they most sure Salves, to heal and cure the wound. Be not therefore abused, in believing that your child being ⟨image 6⟩above twenty years of age, ought not therefore most sharply for his faults to be scourged and punished. In former ages, the sons and daughters have been subject to the scourges of their Parents, even all their lives long. And by the laws of God, and of nations:

For be you most assured, that before the Lorde you shall giue acount of such carelesse and neglygente bringing vp of your children, so muche to their owne destruction, ⟨image 5⟩and when they perishe for wante of that rodde of correction, which is committed vnto you, and put into your hands, onely to the ende and intente, that you should vse it for their chastismente and good, assuredly their death and damnation will bee requyred at your handes, and you shall aunswere as well for their bodyes, as for their soules, in that last day of iudgement, before the Tribunall seate of GOD. But I heare, that now you wéepe and wayle bitterly for that which is past: you fynde your owne follye now: you repent you of your extreme fondnesse and foolishe pittie heretofore: and if your sonne were in his tender yeares againe: you saye that then you would chastise him with all seuere scourges and castigation. Beholde howe one great follye doth acompany an other, and that greater then the first. Good Lorde, how wonderfully are you blynded in that, which is more cléere than is the light of the noone daye. Your sonne is now of twenty yeres old and ⟨image 5⟩more: Is hée therfore frée from the rod of correction? Is hée therfore now not subiect to the stripes & scourges of his father? Is he therefore not to be stripped naked, & to be beaten and whipped, vntill you haue broken euen all the skin of his bodye, spilt the blood of his loynes in abundaunce, and giuen him so many thousande scourges, as that hée may neyther lye nor syt without payne in forty dayes after? Nay hée is nothing at all frée from these thinges. For all this is most fytte to be done, and he is to be haled home with violence, and whether he will or not to be taught to obey, by the smarte of his loynes, and to be traynde to his duety by the paynes of his scourges. For when gentle lenatiues will doe no good, to an olde sore ouer long neglected: you knowe that Corosiues are to be applyed, & though alwayes they put the pacient to great paines, yet are they moste sure Salues, to heale and cure the wounde. Be not therfore abused, in beléeuing that your childe being ⟨image 6⟩aboue twenty yeres of age, ought not therfore most sharply for his faults to be scourged and punished. In former ages, the sonnes and daughters haue bene subiect to the scourges of their Parentes, euen all their lyues long. And by the lawes of God, and of nations:

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it remaineth and ought to be so still. Doth not the law at this day, for divers faults, judge both the man and woman, even naked to be most grievously whipped, and that with the scourges of whipcords knotted, some with a thousand stripes, some with moe, and some with less, according to the quality of their offence? And is not think you, the authority of the parents upon the child, far above and superior, beyond all the laws positive, that man may stablish and make? You shall hear, what God himself hath set down and enacted in his sacred book, which is above all earthly laws and constitutions. And thereby shall you plainly perceive in how great and strait subjection, ⟨image 6⟩it is the express will of God, that children do stand and remain towards their parents. The text is thus. If any man have a son that is stubborn & disobedient, ¹which will not hearken unto the voice of his father, nor the voice of his mother, and they have chastened him, and he would not obey them: Then shall his father and his mother take him, & bring him out unto the Elders of his City, and unto the gate of the place where he dwelleth: and shall say unto the Elders of his City: This our son is stubborn and disobedient, and he will not obey our admonition: Then all the men of the City shall stone him with stones unto death. So thou shalt take away evil from among you: that Israel may hear it & fear. Here you see two things are to be noted. First that there be no years excepted: but if he be a son, (that is to say a child of his parent, for under that word son, both son and daughter are equally comprehended) he is fast bound to the duty of obedience. Let him be of what years so ever ⟨image 7⟩he may be, if he be at any time disobedient to the voice of his father, or of his mother, he is subject to their chastisement. The second note is, that this disobedience of the child to his Parent, is a thing so hateful to almighty God, as that he hath pronounced by his own mouth, that such a child shall dye the death therefore. Let not parents then be doubtful or scrupulous, by the sharp chastisement of whipping and scourges to correct their children, to the uttermost: when by their power and authority over them, they may for their disobedience deliver them unto death.

it remayneth and ought to be so styll. Doth not the lawe at this day, for diuers faults, iudge both the man and woman, euen naked to be most gréeuously whipped, and that with the scourges of whipcordes knotted, some with a thousande strypes, some with moe, and some with lesse, according to the qualitie of their offence? And is not thinke you, the authoritie of the parents vpon the child, farre aboue and superior, beyonde all the lawes positiue, that man may stablishe and make? You shall heare, what God himselfe hath sette downe and enacted in his sacred booke, which is aboue all earthly lawes and constitutions. And therby shall you plainly perceiue in how great and strayte subiection, ⟨image 6⟩it is the expresse will of God, that children doe stand and remain towards their parents. The text is thus. If anye man haue a sonne that is stubborne & disobedient, ¹which wil not harken vnto the voyce of his father, nor the voyce of his mother, and they haue chastened him, and he would not obey them: Then shal his father and his mother take him, & bring him out vnto the Elders of his Citie, and vnto the gate of the place where he dwelleth: and shall saye vnto the Elders of his Citie: This our sonne is stubborne and disobedient, and he will not obey our admonition: Then all the men of the Citie shal stone him with stones vnto deth. So thou shalt take away euill from among you: that Israel may heare it & feare. Here you sée two things are to be noted. First that there be no yeares excepted: but if hée be a sonne, (that is to say a child of his parent, for vnder that word sonne, both sonne and daughter are equallye comprehended) he is faste bound to the dutye of obedyence. Let him be of what yeares so euer ⟨image 7⟩he may be, if he be at any time disobedient to the voyce of his father, or of his mother, he is subiect to their chastismente. The second note is, that this disobedience of the childe to his Parente, is a thing so hatefull to almighty God, as that he hath pronounced by his owne mouth, that suche a child shall dye the death therfore. Let not parentes then be doubtfull or scrupulous, by the sharpe chastismente of whipping and scourges to correct their children, to the vttermost: when by their power and authority ouer them, they may for their disobedience deliuer them vnto death.

1Deutr. 21.

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For if death be commanded to the disobedient child by God himself, O ye fond and foolish parents, will ye make any scruple pity or compassion, to strip him naked, to beat him, whip him, and scourge him, yea not with a thousand stripes, but even with many thousands and that most bitterly and sharply, when gentle admonitions and warnings given, will not prevail? For you know what is ⟨image 7⟩written in the book of God:¹ He that spareth his rod, hateth his child, but he that loveth him, chastiseth him betime. And in an other place.² Chastise thy son while there is hope: and let not thy soul spare for his murmuring. This text doth very well forewarn those fond and foolish parents, that will be moved, to pity the cries or lamentations, of their corrected children, for this is as much as if he had said: whether thy child murmur, or mutine against his correction, whether he resist or set himself against thee: whether he make moan or lamentation unto thee: yea, though he speak never so fair to entreat thee: whether he weep or wail, cry or exclaim: Finally, whatsoever mean or moan he make unto thee, to move thee to that fond or foolish pity or compassion: let thine ears be still deaf unto him: and let not thy soul spare, lustily to lay on the sharp stripes of correction, even with all the might and power that thou canst give them. For again he saith:³ The blueness ⟨image 8⟩of the wound doth serve to purge the evil: and the stripes within the bowels of the belly. This teacheth us to whip and scourge, not only till the blood run down, but even till we have left wounds in the flesh: and this doth plainly prove, that the scourgings of disobedient children, ought to be with knotted whipcords, and not with rods of birch, which God knoweth unto a shrewd boy, is but a simple chastisement: and in a few days after, is soon recovered and forgotten. But this text sayeth, that the stripes should be such and so severe, as they should pass and enter even into the very bowels of the belly: that is to say, even the very hart and soul of the disobedient child, that lies within the bowels, should feel the sharpness of his correction, it ought and should be so great unto him. And why? marry to save himself from shame and confusion, and his soul from damnation. And therefore in an other place it is said:⁴ Withhold not correction from ⟨image 8⟩thy child:

For if death be commaunded to the disobedient childe by God himself, O ye fond and foolish parents, wil ye make any scruple pity or compassion, to strip him naked, to beate him, whippe him, and scourge him, yea not with a thousand strypes, but euen with manye thousandes and that most bitterly and sharply, when gentle admonitions and warninges giuen, will not preuayle? For you knowe what is ⟨image 7⟩written in the booke of God:¹ He that spareth his rod, hateth his child, but he that loueth him, chastiseth him betime. And in an other place.² Chastice thy son while there is hope: and let not thy soule spare for his murmuring. This texte doth very well forewarne those fonde and foolishe parentes, that wilbe moued, to pittie the cryes or lamentations, of their corrected children, for this is as much as if he had saide: whether thy child murmour, or mutine against his correction, whether he resist or set himself against thée: whether he make mone or lamentation vnto thée: yea, though he speake neuer so fayre to intreate thée: whether he wéepe or waile, cry or exclayme: Finally, whatsoeuer meane or mone he make vnto thée, to moue thée to that fond or foolishe pittie or compassion: let thine eares be still deafe vnto him: and let not thy soule spare, lustely to laye on the sharpe strypes of correction, euen with all the might and power that thou canst giue them. For agayne he sayth:³ The blewnesse ⟨image 8⟩of the wounde doth serue to purge the euill: and the strypes within the bowels of the belly. Thys teacheth vs to whip and scourge, not onely tyll the blood runne downe, but euen tyll we haue left woundes in the fleshe: and this doth plainly proue, that the scourgings of disobedient children, ought to be with knotted whipcordes, and not with roddes of byrche, which God knoweth vnto a shrewde boy, is but a simple chastisment: and in a few daies after, is soone recouerd and forgotten. But thys text sayeth, that the strypes should be suche and so seuere, as they should passe and enter euen into the verye bowels of the bellye: that is to say, euen the very hart and soule of the disobedient chylde, that lyes within the bowels, should féele the sharpnesse of his correction, it ought and shoulde be so great vnto him. And why? marie to saue himselfe from shame and confusion, and his soule from damnation. And therefore in an other place it is sayde:⁴

1Prover. 13Prouer. 13
2Prover. 19Prouer. 19
3Prover. 20Prouer. 20
4Prover. 23Prouer. 23

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for if thou smite him with the rod, he shall not dye. Lo, here is a blessing promised to that child, whom the parents do smite with the rod of correction: and that even the greatest blessing of all blessings: which is eternal salvation. And is it not also likewise employed think you by this text? that if this child be not smitten with the rod of correction by his parents, that he is then in danger of eternal damnation? Ye, no doubt it is. For in an other place, the same is plainly confirmed to be so, where he saith thus: Thou shalt smite him with the rod, ¹and shalt deliver his soul from Hell. And after this he sayeth: Correct thy son, ²and he will give thee rest, and will give pleasures to thy soul. Lo how he saith, that it shall be rest and pleasure to the soul of the parents, to correct their child. So as we ought to take pleasure in their sharp correction: because it is so much for their sweet good and behoof: and •o greatly for their own comfort. And ⟨image 9⟩there is no doubt, but that if either we be negligent, and reck not: or moved with fond pity, and will not give that sharp and severe punishment that we ought: assuredly the fall and confusion of that child, shall be required at our hands in the day of the Lord: and our soul shall pay the price of his destruction. And therefore we ought, not only to correct them, but also to instruct them, and teach them. For all their whole life, rule, order, disposition, and government, dependeth upon us. And therefore it is written in Ecclesiasticus: If thou have sons, instruct them, ³and hold their neck from their youth. The meaning is, keep their neck always under the yoke of obedience and chastisement. And again it followeth:⁴ Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his folly. And after again:⁵ Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the sides, least he wax stubborn and be disobedient to thee, and so bring sorrow to thine heart. And likewise again: ⟨image 9⟩He that loveth his son, ⁶causeth him oft to feel the rod: that he may joy of him in the end. And after this again:⁷ He that chastiseth his son, shall have joy in him, and shall rejoice of him among his acquaintance. And in like sort again:⁸ Chastise thy child and be diligent therein, least his shame grieve thee. And after this again:⁹

for if thou smyte him with the rodde, he shall not dye. Loe, here is a blessing promised to that chylde, whome the parents doe smite with the rodde of correction: and that euen the greatest blessing of all blessinges: which is eternall saluation. And is it not also likewise emplyed thinke you by this text? that if this chylde be not smitten with the rodde of correction by his parents, that he is then in daunger of eternall damnation? Yée, no doubt it is. For in an other place, the same is playnely confyrmed to be so, where he sayth thus: Thou shalt smyte him with the rodde, ¹and shalt delyuer his soule from Hell. And after thys he sayeth: Correct thy sonne, ²and he will giue thee rest, and will giue pleasures to thy soule. Loe howe he sayth, that it shall be rest and pleasure to the soule of the parentes, to correct their childe. So as wée ought to take pleasure in their sharpe correction: bicause it is so much for their swéete good and behoofe: and •o greatly for their owne comfort. And ⟨image 9⟩there is no doubt, but that if eyther we be negligent, and reck not: or mooued with fond pittie, and wil not giue that sharpe and seuere punishment that we ought: assuredly the fall and confusion of that chylde, shall be requyred at our handes in the daye of the Lorde: and our soule shall paye the price of his destruction. And therefore we ought, not onely to correct them, but also to instruct them, and teache them. For all their whole lyfe, rule, order, disposition, and gouernment, dependeth vppon vs. And therfore it is written in Ecclesiasticus: If thou haue sonnes, instruct them, ³and holde their necke from their youth. The meaning is, kéepe their neck alwayes vnder the yoke of obedience and chastisment. And agayne it followeth:⁴ Giue him no libertie in hys youth, and winke not at his folly. And after agayne:⁵ Bowe downe his necke whyle he is yong, and beate him on the sydes, least he wax stubborne and be disobedient to thee, and so bring sorrow to thyne harte. And lykewise agayne: ⟨image 9⟩He that loueth his sonne, ⁶

1Prover. 23Prouer. 23
2Prover. 29Prouer. 29
3Eccle. 7.
4Eccle. 30.
5Eccle. 30.
6Eccle. 30.
7Eccle. 30.
8Eccle. 30.
9Prover. 29Prouer. 29

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The rod and correction give wisdom, but a child set at liberty maketh his mother ashamed. And last of all it is written thus.¹ He that flattereth his son, bindeth up his wounds, and his heart is grieved at every cry. Whereby he doth plainly teach us: That good and discreet fathers and mothers, they should not flatter nor moan their sons and daughters: for though their loins be never so much scourged, and though their bodies be never so bloody beaten: yea, though their sides be full of wounds, yet sayeth Ecclesiasticus: Flatter him not, bind not up his wounds, be not moved with any cry or compassion that he can make unto thee: but let him ⟨image 10⟩[…] ⟨image 10⟩[…] […] ⟨image 11⟩child: you shall also deliver your own soul, from the heavy burden of conscience, by which you are bound even upon pain of damnation, to see his faults & offences most severely chastised and corrected. The Lord pour upon him his grace, and send him to live in the love and fear of him: and then shall all things prosper with him, even to your great comfort and rejoicing, which GOD grant. Amen.

The rodde and correction giue wisdome, but a chylde set at libertie maketh his mother ashamed. And last of all it is written thus.¹ He that flattereth his sonne, byndeth vp his woundes, and his harte is grieued at euerye crye. Whereby he doth playnely teache vs: That good and discréete fathers and mothers, they should not flatter nor mone their sonnes and daughters: for though their loynes be neuer so much scourged, and though their bodyes be neuer so bloodye beaten: yea, though their sydes be full of woundes, yet sayeth Ecclesiasticus: Flatter hym not, bynde not vp his woundes, be not mooued with anye crye or compassion that he can make vnto thee: but let him ⟨image 10⟩〈…〉 ⟨image 10⟩〈…〉〈…〉 ⟨image 11⟩chylde: you shal also delyuer your own soule, from the heauie burthen of conscience, by which you are bounde euen vpon payne of damnation, to sée hys faultes & offences most seuerely chastised and corrected. The Lorde powre vpon him his grace, and sende him to lyue in the loue and feare of him: and then shall all things prosper with him, euen to your great comforte and reioysing, which GOD graunt. Amen.

1Eccle. 30.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

To his loving Friend and Cousin, Master A. B.

To his louing Friend and Cosyn, Mayster A. B.