81. When do children honour their parents, as the FIFTH precept demands? When they cherish esteem for them in their hearts, and show this on every occasion both by word and deed, and when they always remember, with due feelings of gratitude, the benefits which they have received, and are daily receiving from their parents. 66 Obey thy father, who * שמע לאבין זה ילדך, ואל תבוז כי זקנה אמן • begat thee; and despise not thy mother, though she be old." (Prov. 23 ch. 22 v.) 82. What does this esteem, which children owe their parents, demand of them? That they should speak in the presence of their parents with all marks of respect, and never contradict them; bear their correction and listen to their admonitions with meekness and submission; and upon the whole conduct themselves so, that the parents may be rendered happy by their children, and be honoured on their account. -how rejoiced is the fa ,0 * גיל יגיל אבי צדיק ויולד חכם ישמח בו, ישמח אביך ואמך ותגל יולדתך • ther of the pious! How glad is the parent of a wise son! Strive, then, that thy father and mother may be glad; and that they who educated thee, may find pleasure." (Prov. 23 ch. 24 v.) 83. How must a child, that loves his parents sincerely, conduct himself, to convince them of his love? He must do every thing with the utmost readiness, which can afford his parents pleasure; he must endeavour to deserve every day their approbation in a greater degree, and strive to promote their welfare, and augment their prosperity, as much as lies within his power. But he, who robs his father » גוזל אביו ואמו ואמר אין פשע חבר הוא לאיש משחית or mother, and says, it is no sin, is an associate of the high-way robber." (Prov. 28 ch. 24 v.) 84. What can we learn from this passage, where God has promised us so expressly a reward for the fulfilment of this commandment? The express promise of a reward for the observance of such a duty, which is already inscribed in the hearts of us all, and which every good man exercises with pleasure-must impress us the more strongly with the consolatory assurance, that the All-merciful will the more certainly dispense sufficient and commensurate reward for the observance of those duties and precepts, which are less agreeable to man, and which cost him much trouble, exertion and self-conquest.* 85. What other doctrine can we draw from this precept, as in the repetition of the Decalogue, (Deut. 5 ch. 16 v.) we find As the Eternal thy God has * כאשר צוך ה' אלהיך added the words commanded thee?" This expression will teach us the following: first, that in all * In the Mishna (Tractate Chulin, last section,) where our wise men treat about a found bird's nest (Deut. 22 ch. 6—7 v.) we read: which is performed so easily ,When it is said, by a precept * ומה אם מצוה קלה שהיא כאיסר אמרה תורה למען ייטב לך והארכת ימים • : and with so little expense קל וחומר על מצות החמורות שבתורה • "That thou mayest fare well, and live long,' how much more must the observance of those precepts be rewarded, which are much more difficult and burthensome to observe?" In the same passage is the expression of the Bible: "That thou mayest fare well and live long," explained in a manner no less true and beautiful, than just and appropriate: “That thou mayest be happy there, where thou wilt live long-for ever." our actions we should always have a holy object and will. Even those laws, the observance of which is already demanded of us by our natural sensations and feelings of love, gratitude, &c., should not be observed by us, solely because they are agreeable, and in some measure necessary to our heart; but rather and chiefly because they are holy precepts of our God, whose will we should ever fulfil from so pure motives of love to him, that we may subject to it all the wishes and desires of our heart. Secondly, that nothing—yes, not even the love to our parents, and the respect which we owe them-should ever induce us to transgress any one of the divine precepts. Both these points are indicated in holy writ by the words: "Because, and in as much, as the Eternal thy God has commanded it." The same thing is also alluded to in another ordinance, where it is said: Each man shall fear his * איש אמו ואביו תיראו ואת שבתתי תשמרו אני ה' אלהיכם · mother and father, and observe my Sabbaths, I am the Eternal your God" (to whom both parent as well as child owe, more than to any other, thanks, love, and obedience). (Lev. 19 ch. 3 v.) 86. What conclusions are we to draw from the fact, that the following precepts are given with so much brevity and in so general terms, as: thou shalt not commit murder! thou shalt not steal! &c.? Firstly, that such actions are interdicted to us because of themselves, without regard to the person, on whom they are perpetrated; be he one of our faith or of any other; be it a fellow-citizen or a stranger; nay if even no other person, besides ourselves, could be injured thereby; in all these cases any criminal deed is prohibited, without the slightest distinction, solely because it is bad. Secondly, that these actions are not only prohibited to us in the limited and literal meaning of the words employed here, but also in their most ample and extended signification; it is further intended to convey a prohibition of every thing which may lead to these abominable crimes, or whatever is in any manner similar to them. 87. What then is forbidden, according to this view, by the SIXTH commandment ? That no man, neither ourselves nor any body else, should suffer any injury through our means, either in body, health, or honour, which could in the most remote manner tend to shorten that life, which has been given to us by the all-wise Father in heaven. ואך את דמכם לנפשתיכם אדרש מיד כל חיה אדרשנו ומיד האדם מיד איש אחיו אדרש את נפש האדם "And your own blood will I require; be it spilt through your own person, through the hands of another man, or through any living being; in all cases I will require the life of man," (meaning will punish homicide); and add our wise men: "He, who makes his fellow-man ashamed in public, has committed a crime analogous to murder." (Genesis 9 ch. 5 v.) 88. And when does a man commit murder on his own person in some degree? When he injures himself purposely, or exposes himself, when there is no necessity for it, to a risk of losing his life; or undermines his constitution by a dissolute course of life. 89. What does the SEVENTH commandment interdict? It forbids us every species of incest; also such improper behaviour and words, through which others might be induced to be guilty of incontinence. The consequences of a violation of this holy precept are peculiarly terrible, and take ample revenge on the soul and body of him who leads a dissolute life. -The end of dissolute » ואחריתה מרה כלענה חדה כחרב פיות רגליה ירדות מות שאול צעדיה יתמכו ונהמת באחריתך בכלות בשרך ושארך ואמרת איך שנאתי מוסר לבי כמעט הייתי בכל רע בתוך ותוכחת נאץ ness is bitter as worm wood, sharp as a two- hurry to death, its קהל ועדה steps lead to hell. In vain is then thy late sighing, when thy flesh and strength are destroyed! In vain wilt thou exclaim: why did I hate good morals, why did my heart contemn good advice! How soon have I sunk in deep distress, before the face of the whole world!" (Prov. 5 ch. 1–23; 6 ch. 24—35; 7 ch. 5—27 v.) 90. How can we best guard ourselves against the sin of incest? By carefully shunning every thing, which could possibly tempt us to a breach of good moral conduct, and by thinking God as present at each temptation which may present itself. For the ways of man * כי נכח עיני ה' דרכי איש וכל מעגלתיו מפלס • are always open before the eyes of the Eternal, who measures each of his steps." (Prov. 5 ch. 21 v.) For his eyes are directed * כי עיניו על דרכי איש וכל צעדיו יראה אין חשך ואין צלמות להסתר שם פעלי און • upon all the ways of man, and he observes all his steps. Neither darkness, nor the shadow of death, can hide from him the doers of evil." (Job, 34 ch. 21—22 v.) 91. What are we commanded by the EIGHTH precept? To let every man keep what is his, and give him what belongs to him, and we may happen to have in our possession, or owe him; that we should tell no man a lie, nor cheat him; and this is also explained and commanded in many passages of the Scriptures. |