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{The Application
Application for the Godly
Directions for Carrying On a Constant Holy Course of Life
Carry Yourselves Well toward Others
Carry Yourselves Well toward Your Families}
Especially carry yourselves well in and toward your families. You who are heads of families have more souls to look after than your own. You have the charge of souls lying upon you. You are not only to look after your families in civil matters, but in matters of Christianity. In the law, the master of the family, by the appointment of God, was to circumcise all of the males in his household. In the Fourth Commandment, the master of the family is not only charged to keep the Sabbath himself, but to see that his whole family keeps it. “But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you”—and not just you, but—“nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates” (Exodus 20:10 NKJV). Parents are required to “not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4 NASB). They are to rear them up for God and nourish them in the words of faith and good doctrine. They are to feed their souls with the milk of the Word as well as their bodies with the milk of the breasts. Now, where there is a charge of souls, there must be given an account of souls. When there is a child brought forth or a servant brought into your family, God says to you what the man in the prophet’s parable said: “Keep this man, and if he is missing, your life will go for his life” (1 Kings 20:39). If any in the house perish through your neglect, your life will go for his life, your soul for his soul. This is your charge, and if you are not faithful, so will your judgment be.353
But what must we do to rightly order and govern our families? Why, first, instruct your families and teach them the way of the Lord. Dwell in your houses as men of knowledge and make God known to all your family by reading and acquainting them with the Scriptures, which are able to make them wise for salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). Catechize354 them and so on.
Second, seek their conversion to God. Speak often to them of the sinfulness and misery of their natural state and of the nature and necessity of conversion. Inquire often concerning the state of their souls.
Third, when you brought them to be baptized,355 you brought them into covenant with God. Now endeavor to bring their hearts into covenant with God. When they are grown up, well instructed in the principles of Christianity, and made aware of their baptismal engagement, endeavor to bring them to expressly dedicate and engage themselves to the Lord according to the directions previously given to Christians in general.
Fourth, teach them to pray and call upon them to pray aloud often. See to it that they do not neglect prayer.
Fifth, pray for them and pray with them.
Sixth, dispense your favors and frowns, and your corrections and encouragements, not only on the basis of their behavior toward you, but as they are more or less tractable and careful in the matters of God.
Seventh, in your disposal of them, either to callings356 or in marriage, have a special regard to the advantage of their souls. I can only just name these particulars now, which particulars I have previously insisted upon357 in greater detail and pressed upon you.
Eighth, Be examples of holiness to them, walk in the midst of your house with a perfect heart; do not unteach them [cause to disbelieve] by your practice what they have learned from your instruction. Do not teach them to slight your words by the unsuitableness of your ways to them.
353Neglect in evangelism or discipleship is a forgivable sin. But the point here is that it is difficult to see how one may have true saving faith and believe that only through Christ is there forgiveness of sin and not have a concern for the lost, especially for near relations.
354catechize: to teach by asking a set of questions (e.g., from the Westminster Shorter Catechism) and receiving the answers, typically verbatim from rote memory
355This statement implies a universal practice of infant baptism in Alleine’s experience.
356In Alleine’s time, children were often sent to work or apprenticeships at a fairly young age. The principle still holds valid today, however, particularly in the matter of education. All parents need to be aware of the highly destructive effects of most government-funded schools, colleges, and universities on the Christian faith, morals, and world view of youth. Sadly, many “Christian” schools are little better.
357If Alleine means to refer to a specific section of this book, the section to which he refers is unclear to the editor.
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