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

It is happy where the Husband and Wife are like the two branches in the Prophet Ezekiels hand, so closed together in one bark, that both made but one piece: or like Pilades and Orestes, of whom it is said, They both lived but one life; and where the whole family, like the multitude of Believers, is of one accord, of one heart, and of one soul in the Lord, Acts 4.32. with the increase of God.

It is happy where the Husband and Wife are like the two branches in the Prophet Ezekiels hand, so closed together in one bark, that both made but one piece: or like Pilades and Orestes, of whom it is said, They both lived but one life; and where the whole family, like the multitude of Believers, is of one accord, of one heart, and of one soul in the Lord, Acts 4.32. with the encrease of God.

I have now dispatched what I intended to offer thee, for the advancement of Godliness in thy Family: If thou art a stranger to this honourable, comfortable work of worshipping God in, and with thy Family; O that I could prevail with thee to put the counsel of God speedily into practice! I must assure thee from the Living and Almighty God, That thou art accountable to the Judge of ⟨p. 559⟩quick and dead, for all the souls in thy Family; God hath the chief propriety in every person in thy dwelling. As the flock which Jacob looked after was Labans; so the family which thou hast the oversight of, is Gods: Thy sons and thy daughters which thou hast born to me, Ezek. 16.20. God may say to thee more truly then Laban did to Jacob, These sons are my sons, ¹and these daughters are my daughters, and these servants are my servants, and all that thou seest is mine. Indeed God doth in effect say to thee, what Pharaohs Daughter did to Moses Mother, Take this child, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages,