N01545:98
Two discourses showing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of…Two discourses shewing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of…
Two discourses showing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. II. The dignity & duty of aged servants of the Lord. : Also, a preface in which the Congregational discipline of the churches in New-England is vindicated, with the authors dying testimony there-unto. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]Two discourses shewing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. II. The dignity & duty of aged servants of the Lord. : Also, a preface in which the Congregational discipline of the churches in New-England is vindicated, with the authors dying testimony there-unto. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green for Daniel Henchman, 1716
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Children are apt to do so, and especially to despise an Aged Mother. Wherefore the word of God, gives a special caution to Children to beware of that Sin. Prov. 23.22. Hearken to thy Father that begat thee, & despise not thy Mother when she is old. When Infirmities of Age are added to that of her Sex, it does often occasion contempt, ⟨p. 101⟩but it ought not to be so. For still she is thy Mother who endured much sorrow in bringing thee into the World, and in thy Education when thou wast a Child, and therefore it will be vile ingratitude to despise her. And there is another Scripture in which the Mother is mentioned before the Father, when Children are Commanded to reverence them both: Luk. 19.3. You shall fear every one his Mother and his Father. Children cannot do better for themselves than to honour and cherish their Aged Parents. They should study to require them for all the care and cost & sorrow which for their sakes they have endured. And in that they will show something of Piety. 1 Tim. 5.4. Let them show piety at home, & to requite their Parents. The Stork useth to be called Avis Pia, a Pious bird, because when the old ones are decayed and not able to provide for themselves, their young ones ⟨p. 102⟩provide for them, and feed them. The Stork will rise up in Judgment against those unnatural Children that have no regard for their Aged Parents. We have the greatest Example that ever was in the World, to instruct Children that they should take care for the welfare of their Aged Parents. For our Saviour Christ when He was dying on the Cross, seeing His poor Widow Mother standing by, He said to His beloved Disciple, Behold thy Mother, & from that hour that disciple took her to his own home, Joh. 19 27. Those Children that will suffer their Aged Parents to want, if they are able to supply them, do not deserve the Name of Christians: They are worse than some Infidels have been. The most famous of all the Greek Poets, speaks of one whose life was short. Why! says he, He gave not food & nourishment to his Parents. On the other hand, there have been some dutiful Children, who when their Aged Parents have been