The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

Suffer none of thy house to spend any part of the day either in idleness, pastimes, or worldly business. Thou art accountable to God as well for sins of permission, as for sins of commission; and it will another day be imputed to thy charge, if the day be profaned by thy carelessness: If thou wouldst not suffer for others, do not suffer others in sin.

Suffer none of thy house to spend any part of the day either in idleness, pastimes, or worldly business. Thou art accountable to God as well for sins of permission, as for sins of commission; and it will another day be imputed to thy charge, if the day be prophaned by thy carelesness: If thou wouldst not suffer for others, do not suffer others in sin.

Fifthly, Let Discipline be set up in thy Family: When Jacob would dedicate his house to God, he commandeth all his Family to change their garments, and put away their strange gods: Their change of garments, did signify that change of heart and life which he desired should be his households livery, Gen. 35.1, 2. As the Governor of a Family must be a Priest to pray, and a Prophet to teach, so also a King to rule; to be a terror to evil doers, and an encouragement to them that do ⟨p. 546⟩well in his family: Let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacle, Job 11.14. Zophar meaneth not a natural or personal (though so the word is sometimes taken, as 2 Cor. 5.1.) but a domestical and civil Tabernacle. Though sin may come into thy house by children or servants commission, yet it must not dwell there, but be cast out by severe reprehension. Wickedness is a bold guest, it will come uncalled; but it must be more bold then welcome; it must not dwell in thy Tabernacle. It is said of Cato, he would bear with faults any where rather then at home. Bishop Jewel at night called his servants to an account how they had spent the day, and after prayer, admonished them accordingly.