Q.125. Why are fuperiors ftiled Father and Mother? A. Superiors are ftiled Father and Mother, both to teach them in all duties towards their inferiors, like natural parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their feveral relations h; and to work inferiors to a greater willingnefs and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their fu periors, as to their parents i. Q. 126. What is the general fcope of the fifth commandment? A. The general fcope of the fifth commandment is the performance of thofe duties which we mutually owe in our feveral relations, as inferiors, fuperiors, or equals k. Q. 127 What is the honour that inferiors owe to their fuperiors? A. The honour which inferiors owe to their fuperiors is, all due reverence in heart 1, word m, and behavi bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the duftof thyfeet,and thou fhaltknow that I am the Lord: for they fhall not be ashamed that wait for me. 125.h Eph.6.4. And ye fathers, provokenotyourchildrento wrath: but bring them up in the nurture & admonition of the Lord.2 Cor.12. 14. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parentsforthechildren. Theff.2.7. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth herchildren: v. 8.So being affectionately defirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you,notthe gofpel of God only, but also our wn fouls,because ye were dear unto us. v. 11. As ye know,how we exhortedand comforted,and charged every one of you, as a father dothhis children. Numb.11.11.And Mofes faid unto the Lord, Wherefore haft thou afflictedthy fervant? and wherefore have I not foundfavour in thy fight, that thou layeft the burden of all this people upon me? v.12.Havelconceived all this people? have I begotten them?that thou fhouldit fay unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, (as a nursingfather beareth the fucking child) our; unto the land which thou fwarelt unto their fathers? I i1 Cor. 4.14. I write not thefe things to fhame you,but as my beloved fons I warn you. v. 15. For though ye have ten thousand inftructers in Chrift, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Chrift Jelus I have begotten you thro' the gofpel. v. 16. Wherefore I beleech you,be yefollowers of me, 2Kings 5. 13. (See letter e). 126. k Eph. 5. 21. Submitting yourfelves one to another in the fear of God, 1 Pet. 2. 17. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood: Fear God. Honour the king.Rom. 12.10. Bekindly affectionedone to another, with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another. 127-1 Mal.1.6.Afon honoureth his father,and a fervanthis master: If then I be a father,where is mine honour? and IfI be a mafter,where is my fear? faith the Lord of hofts unto you: Opriests, that defpifemy name: and ye fay, Wherein have we defpifed thy name? Lev.19.3. Ye fhallfear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my fab. baths: I am the Lord your God. m Prov.31 28. Her childrenarife up, and call her blessed; her husR4 band our n; prayer and thanksgiving for them o; imitation of their virtues and graces p: willing obedience to their lawful commands and counfels q; due fubmiffion to their Corrections hand also, andhe praifeth hert Pet. 3.6 Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord whofe daughters yeare as long as ye do well,and are not afraid with any a mazement. n Lev. 19. 32. Thou shalt rife before the hoary head.and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God I am the Lord. 1 Kings 2. 19, Batfhebatherefore went unto king Solomon, tofpeak unto him for Adonijah; and the king rofe up to meet her,and bowed himself anto her,andfatdownonhis throne, and caufed a feat to be fet for the kinds mother; and she fat on his right hand. 01 Tim. 2. 1. I exhort therefore thatfirst of all, fupplications prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: v. 2. for kings, and for all that are in authority; thatwe may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinefs and honesty. men. I Pet. 2, 13. Submit your felves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's fake: whether it be to the king, as fupreme; v.14.Or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him for the punishment of evil doers,and for the praise of them that do well. Rom. 13. 1. Let every foulbefubject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be, are ordained of God.v.2. Whofoever therefore refifteth the power, refifteth the ordinance of God: and theythatrefift,fhall receive tothemfelves damnation. v. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works,but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou fhalt have praise of the fame:v.4. For he is the minifter of God to thee for good, But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid:for he beareth not the fword in vain: for he is the minister of God,a revenger toexecut wrath upon himthatdothevil. v.5.Where! fore ye muft needs be fubject, not only for wrath, but also for con pHeb. 13. 7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God wholefaithfollow,confidering fciencefake.Heb.13.17.Obey them the end of their converfation. Phil. 3. 17. Brethren,be followers toge ther of me, and mark them which walk fo,asychaveusforanenfample. q Eph.6.1.Children,obey your parents in the Lord:for thisisright. 7. 2. Honour thy father and mother, (which is the firft commandment withpromise) v. 5.Servants, be obedient to them that are your mafters according to the flesh,with fear and trembling,in fingleness of your heart, as unto Chrift; v. 6. Not with eye-fervice,as men pleafers, but as the fervants of Chrift, doing the will of God from the heart;v. 7, With good-will doing fervice, as to the Lord, and not to that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourselves; for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Prov. 4.3.For I was my father's fon,tender and only beloved in the fight of my mother. v. 4. He taught me alfo, and faid unto me, Let thy heart retain my words, keep my commandments andlive. Prov.23 22. Hearken unto thy father that begatthee,and difpife not thy mother when the is old. Exod.18.19. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counfel,andGod fhall be with rections r; fidelity to f, defence t and maintainance of their perfons and authority, according to their several ranks and the nature of their places v; bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love w, that fo they may be an honour with thee. v, 24. So Mofes hearkned to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had faid. r Heb. 12. 9. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, who corrected us,and we gave them reverence: fhall we not much rather be in fubjection unto the Father of fpirits,and live? 1 Pet. 2. 18.Servants, be fubject to your mafters with all fear,not only to the good and gentle,but alfo to the froward v.19. For this is thank worthy,if a man for confcience toward God endure grief, fufferingwrongfully. v. 20, For what gloryis it,if when ye be buffeted for your faults,ye Ihall take it patiently? but if when ye do well,and fufferfor it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptablewith God. f Tit.2. 9. Exhort fervantsto be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not anfwering again. 10. Not purloining, but fhewing all goodfidelity:that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. t1 Sam.26. 15, And David faid to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in If rael? wherefore then haft thou not kept the lord the king? for there came oneof the people into deftroy the king thy lord. v. 16 This thing is not good that thou haft done: As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy todie, because ye have not kept your mafter the Lords anointed. 2 Sam. 18. 3. But the people answered, Thou thalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou to fuccour us out of the city. Efth, 6. 1. And it was found wrttten,that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh,two of the kings chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who fought to lay hand on the kingAhafuerus. vMat.22.21.They say untohim, Cefars. Then faid he unto them, RenderuntoCefar thethings which are Cefars: and unto God the things that are Gods. Rom. 13. 6. For, for this caufe pay you tribute alfo: for the yare Gods miniftersattending continually upon thisvery thing. v. 7. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, cuftom to whom cuftom, fear to whom fear,honour to whom honour. 1 Tim, 5. 17. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, efpecially they who labour in the word and doctrine. v. 18. For the fcripture faith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn, and, the labourer is worthy of his reward.Gal.6.6.Let him that is taughtintheword.communicateunto him that teacheth in all good things. Gen. 45. 11. And there will I nourish thee (for yet there are five years of famine) left thou; and thy houfhold, and all thatthou haft cometopoverty. Gen. 47.12 And Jofeph nourished his father and his brethren, and all his fathers houfnold with breadaccording to their families. w 1Pet. 2. 18. Servants, be subject to your mafters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward Prov. 23. 22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,and difpife not thymo ther when he is old. Gen. 9. 23, And Shemand Japheth took a gar ment to them and to their government x, Q. 128. What are the fins of inferioursagainsttheir Superiors? A. The fins of Inferiors against their fuperiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them y; envying at contempt of a, and rebellion bagainst their perfons c and places d, in their lawful councils e, commands, and corre tions f; curfing, mocking g, and all fuch refractory and fcan ment and laid it upon both their fhoulders, and went backward, & covered the nakedness of their father andtheirfaces were backward, and they faw not their fathers na kedness. x Pal 127.3. Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. v. 4. As arrows arein the hand of a mighty man fo arechildren ofthe youth. v. 5.Happy is the manthat hath his quiver full of them: they fhall not be afhamed,but theyshall fpeak withtheenemies in thegate. Prov.31.23.Her husband is known in the gates,whenhefittethamong the elders of the land. 128. y Mat. 15. 4. For God commanded,faying, honour thy father and mother: and, He that curfeth father or mother, let him die the death..5.But ye fay, Whofoever fhall fay to his father or hismother, It it a gift by whatfoever thou mighteft be profited by me. v. 6. And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye madethe commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. z Numb. 11.28.And Jofhua the fon of Nun, the fervant of Mofes, one of his young men, anfwered & laid,my lord Mofes, forbid them v. 29. And Mofes faid unto him Envyelt thou for my fake? WouldGod that all the Lords people wereprophets,and that theLord would put his fpirit upon them. a 1 Sam. 8. 7.And the Lord faid unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people,in all that they fay unto thee: for they have not rejectedthee, butthey haverejected me, that I fhould not reign over them. Ifa. 3. 5. And the people fhall be oppreffed, every onebyanother,andeveryoneby his neigh bour; the child fhall behave him felf proundly againfttheancient,& the bafe against the honourable. b 2Sam. 15. from v.1. to12. And it came to país after this, that Abfalom prepared him chaiots and horses, c Exod 21. 15. And he that fmiteth his father or his mother, shall furely be put to death di Sam. 10. 27. But the children of Belielfaid,how fhallmanthis fave us? and they defpifed him, and brought him no prefents, but he held his peace. e1 Sam.2.25.--Notwithstanding they(viz.the fons of Eli) hearkned not unto the voice of their father, becaufethe Lord would flay them. f Deut. 21. 18. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious fon, which will not obeythe voiceof his father or thevoice of his mother,and that when they have chaftned him, will not hearken unto them:v. 19. Then fhall his father and his mother lay hold on him,and bring himout unto the elders of the city, and unto the gate of his place: v, 20. And they fhall fay unto theelders ofhis city, This our fon is ftuborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice,he is a glutton and a drunk. ard.v.21.And all themenof hiscity fhall ftone him with ftones, that he die: fofhaltthou put evilaway from among you, and all Ifraelfhallhear and fear. g Prov. 30. 11. There is a gene ration fcandalous carriage, as proves a fhame and difhonour to them and their government b. Q. 129. What is required of fuperiors towards their in feriors? A. It is required of fuperiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they ftand, to love i, pray for k, and bless their inferiors 1; to inftruct m counfel and admonish them n; countenancing o, commending P, and rewarding fuch as do well q'; and discountenancing, ration that curfeth their father, and doth not blefs their mother. v.17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and defpifeth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley fhall pick it out,& the young eagles fhall eat it. h Prov. 19. 26. He that wafteth hisfather,and chafeth away his mother, is a fon that caufeth fhame, and bringeth reproach. 129.i Col. 3. 19. Hufbands,love your wives,&be not bitter against them. Tit. 2. 4. That they may teach the young women to be lober, to love their hufbands,to love their children. k 1 Sam. 12.23. Moreover,as for me, God forbid that I fhould finagainst the Lord in ceafing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way. Job 1. 5, And it wasfo, when thedays oftheir fafting were gone about, that Job fent and fantified them, and rofe up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings,according to the number of them all: for job faid, it may be that my fons have finned, and curfed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. 11 Kings 8.55.And he (tood,and bleffed all the congregation of if rael, with a loud voice, faying, v.56.Bleffed be the Lord, that hath given reft unto his peoplelfrael,ac cording to all that he promised: there hath not failed-Heb. 7. 7. And without all contradiction, the lefs is bleffed of the better, Gep, I 49. 28. All these are the twelve tribes of Ifrael; and this is it that their father fpake unto thein, and bleffed them; every one according to his bleffing he bleffed them. m Deut. 6. 6. And these words which I command thee this day, fhall be in thine heart. v. 7. And thou fhalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and fhall talk of them when thou fitteft in thine houfe, and when thou walkeft by the way,and when thou lieftdown, and when thou rifest up. n Eph. 6. 4.And ye fathers,provoke not your children to wrath : but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. o 1Pet.3.7.Likewifeyehusbands, dwell with themaccordingtoknowledge,givinghonouruntothewifeas unto the weaker veffel, & as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindred. p1Pet.2.14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are fent by him for the punishment of evil doers, & for the praife of them that do well. Rom.13.3.For rulers are not a ter ror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, & thou shalt have praife of the fame. q Efth. 6. 3. And the king faid, what honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? then faid the king's fervants that miniftred unto him, there is nothing done for him. r Rom. |