A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

CAP. XXXII.

Of family duties, which respect wise and reli∣gious gouernement.

§. Sect. 1 What things are required vnto wise go∣uernement.

ANd these are the duties of gouernours in families, which re∣spect instruction. The second mayne duty, is wise and reli∣gious gouernment, whereby they are to mooue and draw their inferiours to put in practice, and to make an holy vse of all which they teach them, in their liues and conuersa∣tions; vnto which, some things are required in the persons of their gouer∣nours, and some things in the administration of their gouernment. In their persons diuers things are required. As first, wisedome and Christian prudence in all their courses, that they may not onely guide themselues in their owne wayes, but be able also to giue direction vnto all that belong vnto them. For that which the Apostle Peter requireth specially of hus∣bands, doth generally belong vnto all gouernours, that they dwell with their * 1.1 inferiours, according to knowledge, as being a principal meanes to gaine from them due honour and authority. Secondly, that they bee not light and vaine in their carriage and gouernement, but behaue themselues in all things grauely, and with a kinde of Christian Maiesty and authority; ac∣cording to the example of Iob, who obserued such grauity in his carriage, that when the young men saw him, they hid themselues, and the aged arose and * 1.2 stood vp; the Princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. The which, as it gaineth authority to gouernours, so the contrary leuitie and lightnesse of behauiour, doth expose their persons to scorne, and their gouernement to neglect and contempt. Thirdly, there is required, that piety, iustice, and sobriety, doe shine in the whole course of their conuer∣sation, that so they may become examples vnto their inferiours, of an holy,

righteous and vnblameable life, then the which, nothing is more power∣full and effectuall, to draw inferiours to imitation of those vertues which they obserue in them. And therefore Dauid intending a strict reformation of his house, beginneth first with himselfe, that hee might be an example vnto all the rest, and resolueth that he will behaue himselfe wisely in a perfect way, and walke within his house with an vpright heart, and then that hee will banish out the wicked from his family, and entertaine and countenance the religious and faithfull of the land. Whereas contrariwise, if they take neuer so much paines in teaching them their duties, yet if they doe not make their owne liues examples of their rules, but run a contrary course in their practice, they shall not so much further them in the wayes of god∣linesse by their instructions, as discourage and hinder them by their bad example. Fourthly, they must not insult ouer their inferiours with tyran∣nicall pride and cruelty, nor doe all they may, by reason of their power and authority, to keepe them vnder, as base vnderlings, out of a fond and false opinion, raysing the pitch of their absolutenesse and greatnesse, out of their slauish deiection, who are vnder their gouernment; but they must mixe with their power and authority, parent-like loue, brotherly huma∣nity, and Christian mildnesse and modesty, that their inferiours may ho∣nour them as fathers, as well as feare them like Lords, and may yeeld vnto them, free, cheerefull, and voluntary obedience, subiecting to their go∣uernement, * 1.3 not onely their bodies and outward actions, but also their hearts, wills, and inward affections. For if the hearts of Kings themselues must not bee lifted vp aboue their brethren, then much lesse should the hearts * 1.4 of inferiour gouernours in families bee thus exalted. Fifthly, they must gouerne in the Lord, as his Vice-gerents and Deputies, and chiefly ayme therein at Gods glory, remembring that from him they haue all their au∣thority, and that they exercise not their owne, but the iudgements of the Lord, according to the saying of good Iehoshaphat to his Iudges; Take * 1.5 heede what yee doe, for ye iudge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in iudgement. And this must make them chiefly to aime by their gouerne∣ment, to containe their inferiours in the duties of piety and righteous∣nesse, that God may be glorified, both by themselues, and also by all those which are in the family. And finally, they must make it appeare in all their gouernement, that they doe not wholly ayme at their owne particular and priuate profit, but also at their ioynt good; which is the chiefe cause why the Lord hath made them superiours vnto others, not that they may serue their turne of them, and looke no further; but that they may (like the head, the members of the body) gouerne them for their benefit. And this argument the Lord vseth to perswade inferiours to honour their supe∣riours, that it might goe well with themselues, in the land which the Lord gaue * 1.6 them. And the Apostle mooueth them to doe that which is good, vpon the like reason, because their gouernours were the Ministers of God to them for good if they did well. * 1.7

§. Sect. 2 Of the iustice & loue which are required in gouernement.

The things required vnto the administration of their gouernement, are iustice, and loue, the which must be tempered the one with the other, that loue may moderate and sweeten iustice, and iustice may keepe loue vnpartiall and vpright, lest our actions sauouring of nothing but iustice,

seeme rigorous, and expose vs to hatred; and loue not guided nor backed by iustice, degenerate into doting fondnesse, and so expose vs to con∣tempt; whereas both rightly mixed the one with the other, will cause re∣uerence and obedience. The which mixture must bee vsed in all our acti∣ons towards all vnder our gouernement, although these vertues are to bee exercised diuersly, and the one to be more manifested then the other, ac∣cording to occasion, time, persons, and deserts. For though we ought to loue all, yet those especially who excell in Gods graces, and profit most in all religious, Christian, and ciuill duties; and to such, our loue must bee most manifested, to incourage them to go on in their good courses, and to draw others to follow their example. The which was Dauids practice, as he professeth; who, though he were indifferently iust towards all his subiects, yet his loue exceeded towards the faithfull of the land, and those which wal∣ked * 1.8 in a perfect way. But especially our loue and iustice must appeare in our rewards and chastisements, which are the mayne bonds and very si∣newes of gouernement. We must reward those who deserue well, partly by our words, commending their good actions, which is a great incou∣ragement to well-doing, as the Apostle implyeth, when hee vseth it as a reason to perswade inferiours to their duty; Doe that which is good (saith he) and thou shalt haue praise of the same; the which, our Sauiour will vse to * 1.9 his seruants at the last day; Well done, good and faithfull seruant, thou hast * 1.10 beene faithfull ouer a few things, &c. And partly by deeds, the which must sauour both of iustice, in giuing them their due wages, and of loue and bounty, by giuing according to our ability, gifts, to incourage them in their well-deseruing. Chastisements also must be vsed towards them, who will not otherwise be reclaimed from their faults, nor kept in due order, either in words only, by gentle or more sharpe reproofes, according to the quality of the offence, or by stripes, when nothing else will serue. For other∣wise we shall offend against God in neglecting (being his Deputies) to glo∣rifie * 1.11 him in his Iustice; against our selues, by becomming accessary to their sins; against the parties offending, whom we reclaime not, but suffer them to go on in their wickednes to their destructions; against those of the same family, whom by this impunity we incourage to follow their ill example; and the whole society, which is hereby made obnoxious to Gods Iustice. But this correction is only good when it is necessary, being like a sharpe salue and bitter potion, which none that are wise will vse for wantonnesse. And therefore his counsell is good, which (as God himselfe implyeth in * 1.12 the fifth Commandement) perswadeth a godly Matrone, that she should so gouerne her family and cherish it, as that shee should rather seeme their mother then their mistrisse; and draw from them reuerence rather by louing benignitie, then rigorous seuerity. For that obedience is al∣waies more faithfull and acceptable, which floweth from loue, then that which is extorted by feare. Yet if there bee no other helpe, but that cor∣rection must bee vsed as necessary; let vs in it obserue first, iustice, both in making sure, that the fault is committed, and deserueth punishment, and that the punishment doe not exceed the qualitie of the fault, which is to rage and reuenge, rather then chastize for amendment. Secondly, It must be inflicted in loue, which must appeare by moderating the punish∣ment,

that it doe not exceede necessity, respecting the parties reformati∣on; and by the end which wee propound in our corrections, which is the good of the partie, in the amendment of his faults for the time to come, which wee must alwaies aduance by ioyning admonition and good counsaile with our chastizement, with promises of loue and kinde v∣sage when as wee finde any reformation. Lastly, this loue must appeare in our patience and forbearance, not comming rashly and violently vpon the party, but after wee haue tryed in vaine all other meanes. Nor in rage and anger, as though wee came to take reuenge; but tem∣perately and quietly, slowly and with god aduice, as propounding no o∣ther end but the parties amendment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Pet. 3. 7.
• * 1.2

  Iob 29. 8, 9.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 13. 5.
• * 1.4

  Deut. 17. 20.
• * 1.5

  2. Chro. 19. 6.
• * 1.6

  Deut. 5. 16.
• * 1.7

  Rom. 13. 4.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 102. 6.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 13. 3.
• * 1.10

  Mat. 25. 23.
• * 1.11

  1. Sam. 2. 29.
• * 1.12

  Familiā tuā ita rege & confoue, vt te matrem magis tuorum quàm dominam videri velis. Hier. ad Celan.