Thesis 8

8. THESIS.

There can be no reason in the world given, that all other persons in relations who have authority over others, as Masters, Fathers, Mothers, Tutors, Husbands, Ministers, should be bound to have a care in matters of religion over their children, servants, &c. and a power of commanding and making them outwardly to worship God and keep his way (So 'tis said of Abraham, he will command his children, make his children and servants know that he is their Father and their Master; so speaks the fourth Commandment to the Father of the family, You, nor your son, nor your daughter, your m[•]n-servant, &c. Tis not said, do you remember that you keep holy the Sabbath day, but you shall admonish your son and your daughter that they also sanctify it; God does not say so, but thus, remember that you sanctify it, and that all others that are yours, sanctify it) and that Princes and Magistrates who are the highest powers, and have the greatest authority on earth (who externally and politically have a power over Ministers, Parents, Masters, to rectify their male administration (as is evident by many instances in Scripture) who can also help and remedy evils in cases where Parents, Masters, Ministers cannot, and have many advantages to bring men to good above others) should not have a power over their subjects to command them to the worship of God and restrain them from Idolatry and Heresy. Hence 'tis a good saying of Zanchie on the fourth Commandment Every Father of a family can and ought to force his family to the outward worship of God; why should not the Magistrate also his subjects? I desire some reason may be shown why the talents of authority and power in all other hands must be made use of for God in reference to the souls of men, and not in the hands of the Magistrate; and why Parents, Masters offend in not caring for their families in matters of religion, and the Magistrate not.