ADVERTISEMENT. A SERIOUS attention to Domestic Duties hath ever been considered, by wise and good people, as a matter of the last importance to the civil and religious interests of mankind. To persuade men to the faithful and cheerful discharge of these duties, is the object of the following Discourses. The author is sensible that there are many excellent treatises on most of the subjects that compose this volume. But he presumes, that the character of the present times, too sadly marked by inattention to these important matters; and the possibility of placing them in a light somewhat different from that in which they have been usually considered, are sufficient reasons to justify this attempt. With great diffidence he submits it to the candour of the Public: not doubting but his views, however he may have failed in the execution of his plan, will meet the approbation of the friends of virtue and religion; and engage their good wishes for its favourable reception, and their cordial prayers for its success.-The first discourse, which has a general respect to all the duties of benevolence, was intended as an introductory one to a plan of which this volume is only a part. Whether the plan will ever be completed is uncertain. But this circumstance is here mentioned as an apology for what might otherwise be deemed an impropriety. CONTENTS OF VOL. II. The Duties of Benevolence considered and enforced.. -In Two Parts. PHIL. II. 4.- -Look not every man on his own things, but every man also Duties of Parents to their Children.- -In Three Parts. PROV. XXII. 6.—Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is EPH. VI. 1-3.-Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, (which is the first commandment with pro- mise) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth, 133 Duties of Servants to Masters.- -In Three Parts. EPH. VI. 5-8.-Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters accord- ing to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ: not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free, 162 Duties of Masters to Servants.In Two Parts. EPH. VI. 9.-And ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your master also is in heaven, neither is there re- of his garments. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, JOB 1. 4, 5.—And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters, to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. The Character of Inattentive Hearers considered.In Two Parts. MATT. XIII. 4.-And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way-side, and the The Character of Enthusiastic Hearers considered.- -In Two Parts. MATT. XIII. 5, 6.-Some seed fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepmess of earth. And when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they The Character of Worldly-minded hearers considered.- In Two Parts. MATT. XII. 7.—And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and DISCOURSE I. INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE. THE DUTIES OF BENEVOLENCE CONSIDERED AND ENFORCED. PHIL. II. 4.-Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. As man was made for society, it is the duty and interest of every one to contribute what lies in his power to the general good. This is a plain dictate of nature, and is abundantly confirmed and enforced by Scripture. Whoever considers the divine benevolence which breathes through the gospel, and which shone so illustriously in the countenance of its great author the Lord Jesus Christ, must clearly see that it is impossible for a man to be a genuine Christian, without feeling, in a degree at least, that generous warmth which a public spirit inspires. When the Sun of Righteousness first arose upon this miserably cold and benighted world, the balmy influence of his grace diffused itself through the breasts of thousands. Men who had hitherto lived in strife, hateful and hating one another, now felt their fierce and malevolent passions subside and die away, and their bosoms glow with all the godlike ardour of divine friendship and love. Of this character the apostle Paul was an eminent instance. No man better understood the gospel, and no man ever drank more deeply into the spirit of it than he did. In his sermons and epistles he soberly reasons on the great truths of Christianity, and in the course of his life shews what admirable effects the belief of those truths is capable of producing. Persuaded of their divine authority, and feeling their efficacy on his heart, |