Media: the middle things, in reference to the first and last things: or, The means, duties, ordinances, both secret, private and publike, for continuance and increase of a godly life, once begun, till we come to Heaven. Wherein are discovered many blessed medium's or duties, in their right method, manner and proceedings; that so a Christian (the spirit of Christ assisting) may walk on in the holy path, which leads from his new birth to everlasting life. / Drawn, for the most part, out of the most eminently pious, and learned writings of our native practical divines: with additionals of his own, by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes.

SECT. 7. Of the Duties of Children to Parents.

DƲties of Children to Parents, are either

• inward, as Love and Fear.
• or outward, as
  • ...Reverence.
  • ...Obedience.
  • ...Recompēce.

1. The inward Duties which children owe to their parents, are, Love and Fear: Love like Sugar sweetens Fear, and Fear like Salt seasons Love; there must be a loving-fear, and a fearing-love. Hence the fear of a childe, is opposed to the fear of a slave; for a childes fear being mixt with love, hath respect to the offence which a parent may take: but a slaves fear, which is ordinarily mixed with hatred, hath respect to nothing but the punishment which his Master may inflict upon him. This love-like-fear is so proper to children, as that the awful respect which the Saints bear to God, is called a filial fear: Children have re∣ceived their substance, from the very substance of their parents, and therefore they are to perform this Duty of Love and Fear to them.

2. The outward Duties, or the manifestation of this Love and Fear in children, appears

1. In their Reverence, in speech and carriage: They must give to their parents reverent and honorable titles, meek and humble speeches, obeysance, as becomes their age and sex: Thus Joseph and Solomon bowed,* 1.1 the one to his father, the other to his mother. Contrary hereto is mocking and despising father and mother; of which said Solomon, The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother,* 1.2 the ravens of the valley shall pick it out: a phrase that sets forth the end of a notorious malefactor, that is hanged in the ayr till the ravens pick out his eyes.

2. In their obedience to their Commands, Instructions, Re∣proofs and Corrections of their Parents, Eph. 6.1. Prov. 1.8, 9. the reason is, because of God, whom the father represents: Chil∣dren must remember, that whatsoever they do to their parents, they do it to God; when they please them, they please God; when they disobey them, they disobey God; when their parents are justly angry with them, God is angry with them: nor can

they recover Gods favor (though all the Saints of heaven should intreat for them) till they have submitted themselves to their own parents; onely with this limitation, that they submit or obey them in the Lord, Eph. 6.1.* 1.3

3. In their Recompence: This is a Duty whereby children endeavor (as much as in them lies) to repay what they can for the parents kindeness, care and cost towards them, in way of thankfulness: If any widow have children, or nephews,* 1.4 let them learn first to shew kindeness at home, and to requite their parents; in sickness, they must visit them, in time of mourning, they must comfort them, in want, they must provide for them;* 1.5 as the chil∣dren of Jacob, who visited, comforted, and went to buy food for their father: in time of danger, they must endeavor their prote∣ction, as David did,* 1.6 Let my father and mother (said he to the King of Moab) I pray thee, come forth and be with you, till I know what God will do for me: And he brought them before the King of Moab, and they dwelt with him, all the while that Da∣vid was in the hold. If God please to take children out of this world before their parents, and their parents be succorless (they must as they can) provide for their well-being after their deaths: Thus Christ commended his Mother to his Disciple John,* 1.7 a little before he gave up the ghost. It is recorded of the Stork, That when the dams are old, the yong ones feed them; and when through age they are ready to faint in their flying, the yong ones help them; and when they are past flying, the yong ones carry them on their weak backs. Thus Nature teacheth children their Duty, how much more should grace?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen 48.12. 1 King. 2, 19.
• * 1.2

  Prov. 13.17.
• * 1.3

  Eph. 6.1.
• * 1.4

  1 Tim 5 4.
• * 1.5

  Gen 48.1. and 37.35. and 42.3.
• * 1.6

  1 Sam. 22.3, 4
• * 1.7

  Iohn 19.27.