The saints everlasting rest

Object. It is my superior: and is it sit for me to teach or reprove my betters? Must the wife teach the husband, of whom the scripture biddeth them learn? ⟨p. 220⟩Or must the child teach the parents, whose duty it is to teach them?

I answer, 1. It is sit that husbands should be able to touch their wives, and parents to teach their children; and GOD expecteth they should be so, and therefore commandeth the inferiors to learn of them. But if they through their negligence disable themselves, or through their wickedness bring their souls into such misery, then it is themselves, and not you, that break GOD's order, by bringing themselves into disability and misery.

I answer, 1. It is sit that husbands should be able to touch their wives, and parents to teach their children; and GOD expecteth they should be so, and therefore commandeth the inseriors to learn of them. But if they through their negligence disable themselves, or through their wickedness bring their souls into such misery, then it is themselves, and not you, that break GOD's order, by bringing themselves into disability and misery.

Matter of m•re orders and manners must be dispensed with in cases of slat necessity. Though it were your minister, you must teach him in such a case. It is the part of parents to provide for their children, and not children for their parents: and yet if the parents fall into want, must not the children relieve them? It is the part of the husband to dispose of the affairs of the family and estate: and yet if he be sick and beside himself, must not the wise do it? The rich should relieve the poor: but if the rich fall into beggary, they must be relieved themselves. It is the work of a physician to look to the health of others: and, yet if he fall sick, some body must help him. So must the meanest servant admonish his master, and the child his parent, and the wise her husband, and the people their ministers, in cases of necessity. Yet secondly, let me give you these two cautions here.