The marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises containing directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

CHAP. VIII.

The diuision of the sins against the second Table; and how men offend in the Familie, Church, or Common-wealth.

HItherto of sinnes against God.

The sinnes against man are to be considered, either more spe∣cially, or more generally.

More specially we offend a∣gainst others, in respect of that relation wherein we stand as su∣periours, or inferiours to them; and so men offend,

• 1. In the Family.
• 2. In the Common-wealth.
• 3. In the Church.

In the Familie,

1. The wife offends,

That is not subiect to her husband, or not in euery thing, Eph. 5. 22, 24. Col. 3. 18.

That is wastfull, Prou. 14. 1.

That is froward, Prou. 21. 9, 19.

That is idle, Prou. 31. 13.

2. The husband offends,

That loues not his wife, Eph. 5. 25.

That dwels not with her as a man of knowledge, 1 Pet. 3. 7.

3. The childe offends,

That disobeyes his parents, Rom. 1. 30. Tit. 1. 6. Eph. 6. 1.

That vseth any vnreuerent be∣hauiour, or any way sets light by them, Commandement 5. Ezeck. 22. 7.

That receiueth not rebuke or correction with submission and reuerence, Prou. 13. 1. Hebr. 12. 9.

That relieues not his parents in their wants, Math. 15. 6.

The aggrauations are,

To despise their instructions, Prou. 15. 5.

To discouer their infirmities, Gen. 9. 22.

To despise their infirmities, ei∣ther

for deformity or infirmity, Prou. 23. 22.

To shame them, or grieue them, Prou. 28. 7. and 27. 11. and 10. 1.

To mocke them, Prou. 30. 17.

To curse them, Prou. 20. 20. and 30. 11. Exod. 21. 17.

To smite them, Exod. 21. 15.

To waste their estates, or chase them away from him, Prou. 19. 29.

4. The parents offend,

In generall, that bring not vp their children in nurture and in∣struction of the Lord, Ephe. 6. 4.

In particular,

That restraine not sin in them, 1 Samuel 3. 13.

That correct them not, but leaue them to themselues, Prou. 22. 15. and 23. 13. and 29. 15.

That prouoke them to wrath by immoderate correction, or rebuke, or intemperate spee∣ches, Ephes. •…•…4.

That prouide no•…•… or them in

their callings, or outward e∣states, or marriage, 1 Tim. 5. 8.

5. Seruants offend,

That are idle and slothfull.

That are disorderly, as

Without reuerence & feare.

Without singlenesse of heart, not as vnto Christ.

With eye-seruice, as men∣pleasers.

Grudgingly, and not from the heart, Eph. 6. 5, 6, 7, 8.

That are vnfaithfull, and shew it either by purloyning, Tit. 2. 10. or by carelesnesse, when they are such as cannot be trusted in any businesse, Prou. 13. 17.

The aggrauations are,

To answer againe, Tit. 2. 9. or out of contempt or sullennesse, not to answer, Prou. 29. 19. Iob 19. 16.

To runne away, Philem.

Through pride and folly to seeke to rule, Prou. 19. 10. and 30. 22.

6. Masters offend,

That entertaine wicked ser∣uants, Psal. 101.

That gouerne their family negligently, 1 Tim. 3. 4.

That with-hold what is iust and equall, in diet, wages, encou∣ragement, &c. Col. 4. 1. Iam. 5. 4.

That vse indiscreete and im∣moderate threatning, Eph. 6. 9.

Thus of the offences in the Family.

In the Common-wealth.

1. Subiects offend,

That speake euill of their Ru∣lers, Exod. 22. 28. Eccles. 10. vlt.

That are disobedient to them, Rom. 13.

That pay not tribute nor cu∣stome, Rom. 13.

That rebell, or are seditious, 2 Tim. 3. 4.

2. Magistrates offend,

That oppresse the people by exactions, or otherwise, Prou. 28. 15. Ezech. 45. 9.

That make vniust lawes, or execute not iust lawes, Esa. 10. 1.

Ier. 5. 1. Mic. 3. 9.

That are vnrighteons in iudge∣ment, either by bribery, or leni∣tie, or rigour, or couetousnesse, or wresting the Law, Leuit. 19. 15.

In the Church,

1. The people offend,

That pay not their tithes or contributions, Mal. 1. 1 Cor. 9. 13, 14. Gal. 6. 6.

That subiect not themselues, but disobey them that haue the ouersight of them, Heb. 13. 17.

2. The Ministers offend,

That preach not, or not con∣stantly: but more of their sinnes afterwards amongst the sinnes against the soules of men.

Notes

• The sins
• 1. Of wiues.
• 2. Of hus∣bands.
• 3. Of chil∣dren.
• The ag∣grauati∣ons.
• 4. Of Parents
• 5. Of ser∣uants.
• The aggra∣uations.
• 6. Of Masters
• 1. Of subiects
• 2. Of Magi∣strates.
• 1. Of hearers.
• 2. Of Mini∣sters.