Hooinh egzainiomnh, or, A treatise of holy dedication both personal and domestick the latter of which is (in special) recommended to the citizens of London, upon their entring into their new habitations / by Tho. Jacomb ...

CHAP. VI. How Religion is to be set up in private Houses: The first Particular opened, as to Religious Members.

THat I may be more distinct and clear in this Head, (under which House-dedication chiefly lies), I will fall upon some Particulars; and there∣in, both direct you, and also further quicken you, as to the advancing of Religion in your Houses. Are there any workings in you, towards this? Are you in any measure convinced of your Duty? and do you resolve to set upon it? Then let me lay these Four Things before you.

• 1. (As near as you can) take such into your Houses, who fear God; and none but such.
• 2. Set up the Worship of God in your Hou∣ses, and the Performance of Holy Duties.
• 3. Let your Education (of such as are under you) be religious.
• 4. Keep sin out of your Houses, and instead thereof, let there be an Holy course driven on in them.

Give me leave to go over these Par∣ticulars, for I am now, at the very heart of that which I mainly designed.

First, (As near as you can) Take such into your Houses, who fear God; and none but such. I put in, (as near as you can), because sometimes there are such Circumstances in the case, that a man cannot do what he desires; these must be submitted to, (in that state of things); but our general aim and en∣deavour must be this, To fill up our Houses, with persons fearing God He that dedicates his House to God, must look to the matter of it, that it consist of such as are religious. And this was one thing intended in House-dedication, or one thing, that men were obliged to, upon House-dedication, (as one ob∣serves upon my Text): we have David here dedicating his House; and upon this, you find him very zealous and re∣solute, as to that which I am treating of, Psal. 101.4. A froward heart shall depart from me, I will not know a wicked person. Mine eyes shall be upon the faith∣ful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he that dwelleth in a perfect way, he shall serve me. (v. 6.) He that worketh deceit, shall not dwell within my House. He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight, (v. 7.) This is an

excellent Psalm for Masters of Families, often to peruse: David, first sets down his holy Resolution, as to his Personal carriage in his House; (v. 2.) I will be∣have myself wisely in a perfect way, O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my House, with a perfect heart. And then he sets down his Re∣solution as to the Member••▪ of his House; he would have such about him, as were godly; and as for wicked and irreligious persons, he would have nothing to do with them, they should not dwell in his House, nor tarry in his sight, (v. 7.) O that we had more of David's spirit; to be for House-dedica∣tion, and thus to pursue and make it good. But how few are there, that write after this Copy! The most are al∣together regardless of this; they take in any into their Houses; the precious and the vile are all alike to them; let them be Swearers, Sabbath-profaners, enemies to God and his ways, that's all one to them; if some poor worldly In∣terest may be but served, if their work and business may be but done, they are satisfy'd, and look no farther; whe∣ther the person have any sense or savour

of Religion, that they never regard. Nay, O that there were not some, who are only shy of taking in such into their Houses, who make profession of God: the worser the Servant is, the fitter he is for their turn. These are perfect Antipodes to holy David: And, as their sin here is very great, so their account hereafter will be very sad. I hope better things of the most of you in this City; yet I think it necessary to stir you up to the greatest zeal and care, and circumspection, (that is possible) in this matter. Assuredly, it will ne∣ver go well as to private Houses, and this Dedication-work will be altoge∣ther insignificant, till men be more conscientious and careful about the several Branches and Members of their Families. Let me be earnest with you, to fill up your Houses with such as are re∣ligious: Let not your Houses be like Noah's Ark, wherein the clean and the unclean were strangely jumbled toge∣ther; but let them be like little Chur∣ches, wherein there is no such mixture. O what a blessed thing would it be, if every Family was as a little Church! It hath been thus, and might be so again,

if men would but do their duty: There was a Church in the House of Aquila and Priscilla, Rom. 16.5. 1 Cor. 16.19. Salute the Brethren which are in Laodi∣cea, and Nymphas, and the Church which is in his House, Col. 4.15. So Philem. 2. And to the Church in thy House. It may be asked, What were these Churches in these Houses? Some make them to be the Saints, who (in those times of Persecution) did there privately meet, for the Worship of their God. Others make them to be the Body of the Families of these persons; which were called Churches, partly, for those holy Duties that were there per∣formed, and partly, for the religious∣ness and holiness of the members there∣of. Surely, this latter sense is not to be rejected, (though I will not say, that it is primarily and mainly intended, in these expressions): Now, will you endeavour in this respect, to have your Houses to be little Churches? Will you fill up your Families with such as fear God? Will you in taking persons in∣to your Houses, steer your course by Religion and religious considerations? Let me draw this out plainly in parti∣cular Instances.

Are you to Marry? to take an Hus∣band or a Wife? Make your choice, and fix your resolution by Religion; let piety have the decisive and casting voice in this grand Affair: Other things may be ey'd, and considered, in their proper place and bounds, (as Birth, Parentage, comeliness of person, sweet∣ness of Nature, suitableness: (But the great thing that must weigh down the ballance, is this, Doth he or she fear the Lord?—This is that which must preponderate, and which must chiefly be in your eye. Beauty and Portion, and Honour, are poor things to go by; 'tis Religion, Grace, Piety, that must re∣gulate and determine the Choice. This is to marry in the Lord, (as the Apostle exhorts), 1 Cor. 7.39. When we do it, not upon any by-respects, or external motives, (as preponderating, or being considered apart from the main), but the great inducement, is something that is spiritual, this is Marrying in the Lord. O that this might be the rule which you would go by: If Religion be any other than a Cypher, how dare we not re∣gard it, in our most important choice, (says that excellent Bishop). Without

this, all Matches are miserable, though they should be made up with hoards of wealth and heaps of Gold as high as Hea∣ven, crowned with Honours transcendent to the Stars, (says eminent Mr. Bolton). Let me a little argue with you; will you make those the objects of your dearest Love, who have no share in the Love of God? will you take those in∣to intimate union and conjunction with your selves, who have no union with Christ? will you lay those in your bo∣some, whom God will cast out of his sight for ever? what agreement can there be 'twixt light and darkness? In tantâ morum discordiâ, quae potest esse concordia? The one is for Holiness, the other for Sin; the one draws one way, the other another, this is the bane of that oneness and harmony that should be betwixt persons in this rela∣tion. O the mischiefs that follow upon being unequally yoked! how doth this imbitter all! To have a religious David, and a scoffing Michal; a blessing Job, and a cursing Wife; a good Sampson and a treacherous Dalilah, this must needs be very sad. 'Tis possible, the unbelieving Husband may be sanctified

by the believing Wife; and so the un∣believing Wife by the believing Hus∣band; but we must not run our selves upon so great a snare, upon presumption of a possibility: They need much grace who will not rather (in this case) re∣ceive hurt, than do good; the latter is but possible, but the former is too pro∣bable: Near Relations have a great in∣fluence upon men; (No wonder that Ahab sold himself to work wickedness, when Jezabel (his Wife) stirred him up thereunto, 1 King. 21.25. And this is rendred as the reason, why Jehoram did as the House of Ahab, for the daughter of Ahab was his Wife, 2 King. 8.18.) And for the most part it so falls out, that the good are rather prejudic'd by the bad, than the bad advantag'd by the good. O you that are yet to dispose of your selves in Marriage, look to your choice, as near as you can, pitch where the fear of God is: Are not such to be found? Is there never a wo∣man among the daughters of thy Bre∣thren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistins? 'Tis sad so to marry in one day, as to repent of this all the days of

your life. Are you to take an Apprentice? go by Religion; I am not against pru∣dence in your considering of Parts, Capacity, Natural temper; but withal let your eye be much (nay most) upon Religious Inclination, and Religious E∣ducation. You cannot expect much, from Plants, that are of no further growth; but this you may satisfie your selves in, how do they stand inclined? Are they pliable and tractable, as to what is good? Have they been piously educated? Do not vitious Habits al∣ready discover themselves, in lying, stealing, taking God's name in vain, pride, vanity, averseness to Family∣duties? O Citizens, do you not some∣times smart upon your taking Appren∣tices, without having that respect to Religion herein, which lies upon you? Such and such Friends mediate, thus much you are offered, (and he that offers most carries it), the Youth is ingenious, can write well, cast accounts well, is of good strength, and the like; Upon this the business is concluded, you look no further; let his inclinati∣on (as to the best things) be what it will, or his Education be what it will,

that's scarce thought of. Is this well? Surely no! Is not this a trespass com∣mited against House-dedication? do you not in a little time see cause to re∣pent of what you have done, when you have taken in one that proves a thorn, in your foot, a spear in your side, a pest and a plague to your Family? Is not God afterwards much dishonoured, and you your selves much wronged, by these persons? Do not bad Apprenti∣ces often prove the bane of your own Children? And doth not infection spread from some one Apprentice to all the rest? The mischievous conse∣quences of this, are not to be reckoned up: O that therefore, you would be very careful in this matter, to take in such, who either are religious, or at least religiously inclin'd, and religiously educated. 'Tis true, you may be de∣ceived, and Youth may miscarry (after good Education), (the more is the pity, and the greater is the grief of godly Parents): but 'tis good to go as far as you may, to pitch upon the most probable means for your security; and then if things fall out contrary to your Hopes, yet this will be your comfort,

you did your duty; you minded the main, though events do not answer your desires. Are you to take an ordi∣nary Servant? Let him be one that fears God; such as serve God, are the best to serve you; Religion makes the best in every relation: None so dili∣gent, so faithful in this relation, as those that have an inward principle of Grace; certainly, that will make them to be what I say. I know some make a Profession, and yet are none of the best Servants. I have much ado to forbear from a sharp Digression, as to these; but I must. Well, 'tis but some, and these do but profess, they do not walk an∣swerably to their profession. Think not the worse of Religion, because of the miscarriages of some, who do pro∣fess it; for all this, get religious Ser∣vants into your Houses. O they'l be faithful to you; and they'l bring a blessing with them, to the place, where

they come; God blesses the Master for such Servants sake. I have learned by experience, that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake, (said Laban to Jacob), Gen. 30.27. The Lord blessed the Ae∣gyptian's House for Joseph's sake, Gen. 39.5. They will not only work for you, but they will also pray for you: and if you put them upon business, they will pray for success in it: So Abraham's Servant did, Gen. 24.12. O what a Treasure, is a praying Servant! Every man is to be valued by this: The pray∣ing Physician is the best Physician; the praying Friend is the best Friend; the praying Parent is the best Parent; the praying Servant is the best Servant. O the difference, betwixt a praying Ser∣vant, and a cursing Servant. The one procures blessings upon the House, the other judgments; the one is the Instru∣ment of doing much good, the other of doing much hurt. Take heed of wicked Servants, they are infectious, they carry the Plague about with them. Will you let your Houses be as so many Pest-houses? God forbid! O, the hurt that one bad Servant doth in a Family! he may infect all the rest; as one scab'd

sheep infects the whole flock; and one rotten apple spoils the whole heap. Eccles. 9.18. One sinner destroyeth much good. And do you think, that they will ever be true to you, who are false to God? Be careful therefore also in this respect: Now you are buil∣ding your Houses, you strive to get the best materials; when you furnish your Houses, you are for the best furniture; and why not the best Wife, the best Servant also? When Pharaoh would pitch upon one for that great imployment, to be set over the land of Aegypt; says he, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is? Gen. 41.38. So here, when you are to make choice of persons, for such and such relations, can you find any such, as they that have the Spirit of God in them? Let those dwell with you, and be admitted into your Hou∣ses, who know and fear God: for, others either do not take them in, or (if the nature of the Relation will bear it) presently cast them out: This is to dedicate your Houses to God; and (if you do not look to this) never speak of House-dedication, or of your desires to advance Religion there.

Notes

• See Swinnocks Christian Call∣ing, vol. 1. p. 523.
• Ʋt hâc Dedi∣catione admo∣nerentur, quamlibet Do∣mum debere esse quoddam Dei Sacrarium, nec admitten∣dos in contu∣bernium Ho∣mines impuros & sceleratos, qui suâ turpi∣tudine at que impietate, pari∣etes Deo conse∣cratos, rursus polluant. Moller.
• Vid. Engl. An∣not. upon Gen. 18.19.
• Bishop. Hall Contempl. p. 1020.
• Prepar. before Death, p. 47.
• 2 Cor. 6.14.
• Hieron. ad Nepot.
• 1 Cor. 7.14.
• See the An∣swer in Just. Mart. to the 90 Quest. p. 447. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Judg. 14▪3.
• It is certain∣ly the duty of every Ruler, to endeavor to advance piety and godliness, a∣mong all those that are under his charge, and that as well in this lesser dominion of a Family, as in the greater of a Realm or Nation. Of this David wasso careful, so much he thought him∣self bound to provide, that his Family might be a kind of Church, an Assembly of Godly Persons: And if Masters would endeavour to have theirs so, they would be∣sides the eternal reward of it hereafter find a present benefit by it; their worldly business would thrive much the better; for if their Servants were brought to make conscience of their ways, they would then not dare to be either negligent or false. Whole Duty of Man, p. 315.
• Frugi atque integer, Nemo vel, ipse sibi vel aliis esse potest, qui probâ Reli∣gione non te∣netur. Masius in Josh. 24.15.