§. 60. Of parents care to commend their children to ſome faithfull friends. to 2. Queſt. Is it then iuſt and equall that the eldeſt ſonne ſhould haue a greater patrimony then any of the reſt?

§. 60. Of parents care to commend their children to ſome faithfull friends.

III. The third generall point of making choiſe of ſome faithfull friends to commend their children vnto, is eſpecially in behalfe of ſuch as are not of ſufficient age and diſcretion to looke to themſelues, or to thoſe weightie affaires which belong vnto them. The friends, which in this caſe are made choiſe of, ought to be ſuch as the parents themſelues by good experience haue found to be honeſt, wiſe, faithfull, and louing to them and theirs; whom parents are to ſet in their owne place for the good of their children. This meanes did Dauid vſe when he was old in the behalfe of his ſonne Solomon. Many children haue found much helpe thereby. Such may make a good ſupply of the departure of parents. Theſe are ſo much the more needfull, by how much

the more vnſtable, and vnbridled youth is; and by how much the leſſe able children are to helpe and guide themſelues.

§. 61. Of parents neglect of their children for the time to come.

Contrary to a parents prouidence for the good of his children after his departure, is the careleſneſſe of parents for the time to come. They thinke the world is gone with them when they are gone, and therefore they will take no thought for the future times that ſhall be after them; as if it were enough for euery one to looke to his owne time. There may ſeeme to be more ſelfe-loue in ſuch parents then loue of their children, in that their care determineth with their owne time, and extendeth not it ſelfe to the time and continuance of their children. Hence is it, that not a word of direction and exhortation commeth out of their mouths to their children when they are departing, no bleſſing that they will leaue behinde them, no friends ſhall be deputed by them, to be as parents to their children. Let God prouide, ſay they. But where there is a referring of matters to Gods prouidence, without the vſe of thoſe meanes which God hath warranted and commended by his word, there can be little hope that God ſhould take care of that which is ſo commended to him. Such men doe not in faith depend vpon Gods prouidence, but make the very name thereof a pretext to caſt off that care, which God as a bounden dutie requireth of them. As there is little loue of their children in ſuch parents, ſo there is leſſe zeale of Gods glory: for a parents care of his childrens welfare, eſpecially of their continuing to feare and ſerue the Lord after their owne departure out of this world, is an eſpeciall meanes of preſeruing Gods feare in the world, and propagating it from age to age: ſo as this neglect is a greater fault then many are aware of.

§. 62. Of parents making a Will before they die.

The two particular things to be obſerued by parents for manifeſtation of their prouident care ouer their children for the time to come, euen after their departure, eſpecially in regard of their temporall eſtate, are theſe,

• 1. That they make a will.

• 2. That they leaue their eſtates to their children.

1. It hath beene an ancient commendable practiſe both among Gods people, and others alſo, that haue beene guided with

common ciuilitie, when they who haue any eſtate, waxe old, or ſicke, and haue any occaſion of expecting death offered vnto them, to make their laſt Will and teſtament. This is ſet forth in the old Teſtament vnder this phraſe (Put thy houſe in order.) A dutie it is expreſly commanded by God: and that not without good reaſon. For

1. A parents Will is an eſpeciall meanes to ſettle peace among children after his departure, and to make them content with that allowance which he hath ſet out vnto them, becauſe by the Will they know it was their fathers pleaſure they ſhould haue ſuch and ſuch a portion. If controuerſies ſhould ariſe, yet a Will is a meanes for the law ſpeedily to determine the ſame without any tedious and chargeable ſuits: for the Apoſtle taketh it for a ruled caſe, that no man diſanulleth or addeth any thing to a mans' teſtament.

2. After a parent hath made his Will, he may the more quietly ſettle himſelfe for heauenly contemplations, and preparations to death: and thinke of ſuch good inſtructions as are moſt fit to giue as his farewell to his children: and the more willingly expect the moment of his diſſolution: and the more patiently ſubmit himſelfe to the very ſtroke of death.

In performing this dutie, a man muſt both obſerue a fit time, and alſo take good aduice. The fit time is while his vnderſtanding is good, and his memorie perfect: ſo as he may call to minde his debts, what he oweth, and what is owing to him: as alſo what goods he hath to beſtow, and with diſcretion and wiſdome order his eſtate. And becauſe through the cauils which many vnconſcionable lawyers and others are like to make, his true meaning may be peruerted, it is meet to haue the aduice of ſuch as can in diſtinct words and phraſes ſo expreſſe his meaning, as they ſhall be free from exception. Matters of weight are wiſely to be managed.

§. 63. Of neglecting to make a Will.

Contrary is the daily practiſe of too many parents who are not willing to make any will at all: or elſe on vaine hope that they may liue longer, and when they are ſicke, vpon conceit that they may recouer, or at leaſt longer continue to enioy the vſe of their vnderſtanding and memory, put off the making of their Will till it be too late: and ſo die without Will,

or make ſuch a Will as miniſtreth more matter of ſute, then if they had no Will at all; either becauſe doubt is made whether he that made it had his vnderſtanding and memory or no: or becauſe his Will is ſo abrupt and ambiguous, as his meaning cannot be knowne. The miſchiefes that follow theſe neglects, are many. As

• 1. Diſcredit to the partie deceaſed.

• 2. Contentions among his ſuruiuing children.

• 3. Waſting a great part, if not his whole eſtate, in ſuits of law.

• 4. Defeating many creditors of their due debt.

The reaſon which maketh many to put off the making of their Will is a fooliſh conceit, that if a mans Will be once made, then he muſt needs die out of hand. But what ground haue men for any ſuch conceit? If ſicknes grow vpon a man, ſo long as his Will is vnmade his minde is vnſetled, his minde being vnſetled, the phyſicke that is miniſtred to him cannot ſo kindly worke; ſo as his death may be the more haſtened for not making a Will. Beſides, if his ſpeech faile before his vnderſtanding, the thought that then he ſhall die without a Will may ſo perplex him, as his departure will be very vnquiet and troubleſome.

§. 64. Of parents leauing their eſtate to their children when they die.

It was before ſhewed that parents were to lay vp a portion for their children againſt their entrance into a calling, and mariage: There is a further duty required when they are going out of the world, namely that they leaue their whole eſtate

to their children. (Where I ſay whole, I exempt not workes of charity, nor payment of debts, which is a point of iuſtice, but I include more then is giuen as portions or ſtockes in their life time.) That eſtate eſpecially which parents haue receiued from their progenitors are they moſt bound to leaue vnto their children. It is expreſly recorded that Abraham gaue all

that he had to Iſaak. Gods law did prouide for this among the Iewes: for a man might not ſell his land to cut it off from his poſterity. This was it that made Naboth refuſe to ſell his vineyard to Ahab, as his anſwer implieth, God forbid that I

ſhould giue the inheritance of my fathers vnto thee: becauſe it was the inheritance of his fathers, that is, he had receiued it from them, he thought it vnlawfull to depriue his children of it. This phraſe (if children, then heires) taketh it for a granted truth that children haue a right to their parents eſtate: and if they haue a right thereto, they may not be defeated thereof.

God giueth wealth vnto parents but for their life time: in which time they are but as Guardians vnto Gods children, and are accountable to God: ſo as they haue not an abſolute power to doe with it what they will, but according to the directions of the great Lord and Maſter they muſt vſe it, reſerue it, and leaue it.

For this end parents muſt order their manner of liuing according to that portion which the Lord hath appointed vnto them, and by his prouidence beſtowed vpon them; they muſt (as it is ſaid in the prouerbe) cut their coat according to their cloth. Of the two it is much better for parents to liue vnder, then aboue their meanes. Prouided that they neglect no duty of charitie, or iuſtice: nor through miſerableneſſe and niggardlineſſe carry themſelues vnbeſeeming the place wherein God hath ſet them, and eſtate which he hath beſtowed vpon them. He that liueth ſomewhat vnder his meanes, hath opportunitie to lay vp portions for other children (if he haue many) and to reſerue his inheritance intire to his eldeſt (beſide many other good workes of charity as God ſhall offer occaſion) which he that liueth aboue his meanes cannot doe.

§. 65. Of the inconueniences which improuident parents bring their children vnto after their death.

Contrary to this branch of a parents prouidence, are many courſes of improuident parents: For

1. Some parents lauiſh and bezell out all their eſtate in their owne life time, making it to determine in their perſons. Vnworthy they are to receiue any inheritance from anceſtors. Their fault is double.

1. In ſpending prodigally aboue their eſtate.

2. In wronging their children, and depriuing them of their right: for particular perſons ſucceding one another are but as diuers linkes of a continued family, which are by Gods

prouidence added one to another: this chaine is not to be broken at any mans pleaſure; but for the preſeruation thereof, that which hath beene receiued of the predeceſſors, muſt be left to the ſucceſſors.

2. Others leaue their eſtate to their children, but ſo incumbred with debts, bonds, recognizances, and ſtatutes, as their children were better be without it, then haue it. For the hauing it maketh them liue at an anſwerable rate, and bringeth many burdens vpon them: beſides, the debts wherein they ſtand obliged make them as ſeruants to their creditors: and in time they muſt be forced to ſell all, or as captiues lie in priſon.

3. Others though they deale not ſo hardly with their children, yet they deale too hardly by peeling and polling their inheritance as much as they can: they wil not forbeare to make any preſent gaine that they can, though it tend neuer ſo much to the preiudice and dammage of their children after them: as they who cut downe all the timber and wood that they can, and take out all the heart of their land.

4. Among theſe may be reckoned ſuch parents as by meere negligence ſuffer things to goe to decay for want of timely reparations: whereby it commeth to paſſe, that ſuch dammages as in the parents time might haue beene preuented with laying out a few ſhillings, cannot be renewed with many pounds.

5. Such alſo as care not in their life time to cleere the titles of thoſe things which they leaue to their children: but leaue all things ſo vnſetled and litigious, as it oft coſts children more in ſuit of law to maintaine the inheritance which their parents leaue them, then the inheritance is worth: and yet after all their paines and coſt loſe the inheritance too: whereas the parent that knew more then the childe can, might with ſmall paines and charge haue well ſetled and cleered all.

Theſe are miſchiefes that many children haue beene brought into by the improuidence of their parents: which are the rather to be made knowne, that ſuch as come after, may proue the more prouident for their children.

§. 66. Of parents impartiall reſpect to all their children.

Hitherto of parents duties. The perſons to whom thoſe duties are to be performed, are diſtinctly to be conſidered.

The parties to whom parents are to performe all the forenamed duties are expreſſed vnder this word (Children) which hath not any ſpeciall reſpect to prioritie of birth, to conſtitution of body, to affection of parent, or any ſuch thing, as if firſt borne, proper, beautifull, darling, or the like children were only meant, but all that are begotten and borne of parents, all their children are meant. Whence I obſerue, that Parents ought to haue an impartiall reſpect to all their children, and performe dutie indifferently and equally to all. We haue for proofe hereof Gods patterne, who accounteth all his children deare or beloued children. The Greeke word tranſlated deare is very emphaticall: it is properly attributed to an only childe: the ſeuentie that tranſlated the Hebrew Bible into Greeke, doe with this word interpret that phraſe, Only Sonne: for where in Hebrew it is thus ſaid to Abraham, take thy ſonne, thine only one, they thus tranſlate it, take thy ſonne, thy deare one, or thy beloued one. Other Greeke authors doe ſo attribute the ſame word to an only childe, yea also and to an only eie: as when a man hath but one eie they call it a beloued eie. This word then ſheweth that God ſo reſpecteth all his children, as if all were but one, all a firſt-borne, all a darling childe. So rare a vertue this impartiall reſpect is (rare in the excellencie of it, rare alſo in the ſcarcitie of it) as thorowout the Scripture I can ſcarce finde a perfect patterne thereof among the ſonnes of men. Many may be giuen of the contrary, as we ſhall after heare. But the more rare it is, the more we muſt labour after it, that ſo we may reſemble Gods fatherhood.

1. All our children come from our owne ſubſtance and bowels. Why then ſhould we reſpect one childe aboue another, more then we doe one eie, or one eare aboue another? We are as tender ouer one as ouer another, though it may be we haue more vſe of one then of another.

2. All our children are alike committed to vs by God: the ſame precepts and directions giuen for all alike: the like account to be giuen for all. If a King ſhould commit many of

his children to one nurſe, would not he be offended (and that iuſtly) if ſhe ſhould put ſuch a difference betwixt them, through a fooliſh partialitie, as to reſpect ſome, and neglect others?

§. 67. Of parents preferring a dutifull childe before a diſobedient childe.

Obiect. What if one childe be more pious to God and parent, another more rebellious, may not a parent reſpect that more then this?

1. Anſw. He may take notice of their different carriage, and accordingly reward the one, and puniſh the other, and yet carrie an equall deſire of doing good to both of them alike: for the puniſhing of the rebellious childe is a parents dutie; an euidence of loue, and a meanes of doing him good.

2. Anſw. It is no partialitie to like grace and goodneſſe in a childe, and for grace and goodneſſe ſake to loue his childe ſo much the more, as alſo for impietie and obſtinacy in rebellion to haue his heart the more alienated from his childe: this is rather a vertue in a parent. Partialitie is when on by and vndue reſpects one childe is preferred before another.

Queſt. May not a parent preferre his firſt-borne childe, and heire before his other children?

Anſw. We muſt put difference betwixt a fathers diſpoſing his eſtate vpon his children, and the ordering of his affection towards them. A parents affection, and care of good education, and deſire of true good, and faithfull praiers to God, may be as great towards his younger children, as towards his eldeſt ſonne and heire, and yet may he beſtow the greateſt patrimony vpon the heire: which is no partialitie.

2. Queſt. Is it then iuſt and equall that the eldeſt ſonne ſhould haue a greater patrimony then any of the reſt?

Anſw. It is moſt iuſt and equall. For

1. God hath ſo appointed it: yea he made this to be one of the prerogatiues of the firſt-borne, to haue a double portion. Vpon this ground Ioſeph, who was the firſt-borne of the true wife, had a double portion; and as a teſtimony thereof his poſteritie made two tribes.

2. The lawes of all nations doe order as much.

3. Our law giueth the whole inheritance of freeholds to the eldeſt ſonne: in which reſpect it is due vnto him. For in ciuill and temporall matters this rule is true, we liue by law. I take it to be a matter of conſcience for a parent to leaue that to euery childe which by law is due to him. Neither is it without good reaſon that the law ordaineth that a parents whole eſtate of freehold land ſhould deſcend: for

1. There is an excellency in the firſt borne, as is euident by Iaakobs ſpeech to his eldeſt ſonne, thou art my firſt borne, my might, and the beginning of my ſtrength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. And thereupon God tooke the firſt borne as peculiar to himſelfe.

2. Houſes and families by this meanes are vpheld and continued from age to age. How needfull it is for the eſtabliſhment of a commonwealth that families ſhould thus be continued, is euident both by experience to all ſuch as haue but halfe an eie to ſee wherein the ſtability of a common wealth conſiſteth, and alſo by the many lawes which God ordained among the Iewes for this purpoſe: as

1. That no land ſhould be quite cut off from a family.

2. That if any through pouerty were forced to ſell his land, the next of kin was to buy it.

3. That if a man that had ſold his land, could by no meanes redeeme it againe, at the yeere of Iubilee he was to haue the poſſeſſion of it againe.

4. That if daughters were heires they ſhould not marry out of their fathers tribe: and this reaſon is giuen, that euery man may enioy the inheritance of his fathers.