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Q. 122. What is the fum of the fix commandments which contain our duty to man?

A. The fum of the fix commandments which contain our duty to man, is, to love our neighbour as ourselvesy, and to do to others what we would have them do to us z.

Q. 123. Which is the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee a.

Q. 124. Who are meant by father and mother, in the fifth

commandment?

A. By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant not only natural parents, but all fuperiors in age e and gifts d; and efpecially fuch as by God's ordinance are over us in place of authority, whether in family e, churchf, or com

wine preffes on the fabbath day. (See in letter b.)

122. Mat. xxii. 39. And the fecond is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

z Mat. vii. 12. Therefore all things whatfoever ye would that men fhould do to you, do ye even fo to them; for this is the law and the prophets. 123. a Exod. xx. 12.

124: Prov, xxiii. 22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and defpife not thy mother when he is old. v. 25. Thy father and thy mother thall be glad and fle that bare thee fhall rejoice. Eph, vi. 1. Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. v. 2. Honour thy father and mother (which is the firit commandment with promife.)

c Tim. v. 1. Rebuke not an el der, but intreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren: v. 2. The elder women as mothers, the younger as fifters, with all purity.

d Gen. iv. 20. And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of fuch as dwell in tents, and of fuch as have cattle. v. 21. And his brother's name was jubal; he was the father

mon

of all fuch as handle the harp and organ. v. 22. And Zillab, fhe allo bare Tubal Cain, an inftructor of every artificer in brass and iron.Gen. xlv. 8. So now it was not you that fent me hither, but God and he hath made ine a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his houfe, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

e 2 Kings v. 13, and his fervant came near, and fpake unto them, and faid, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do fome great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he faith to thee wath and be clean?

f2 Kings ii. 12. And Elisha faw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Ifrael, and the horsemen thereof.-2 Kings xii. 14. Now Elitha was fallen fick, of his fickness whereof he died, and joash the king of Ifrael came down unto him, and wept over his face, and faid, O my father, my father, the chariot of Ifrael, and the horsemen thereaf, Gal. iv. 19. My little chil'dren, of whom I travail in birth again

until

mon-wealth g.

Q45: Why are fuperiors filed father and mother?

A. Superiors are stiled father and mother, both to teach them in all duties toward their inferiors, like natural parents, to exprefs love and tenderness to them, according to their feveral relations b; and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and chearfulness in performing their duties to their fuperiors, as to their parents i.

Q. 126. What is the general fcope of the fifth commandment? 4. The general scope of the fifth commandment is the performance of those duties which we mutually owe in our feveral relations, as fuperiors, inferiors 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,

antil Christ be formed in you.

g Ifa. xlix. 23, and kings thall be thy nurfing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: and they fhall how down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the duft of thy feet, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they fhall not be ashamed that wait for

me

125. b Eph. vi. 4. And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 2 Cor. xii. 14. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. I Theff. ii. 7. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherifheth her children: v. 8. So being affectionately defirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gofpel of God only, but alfo our own fouls, becaufe ye were dear unto us. v. II. As ye know, how we exhorted and comforted, and char ged every one of you, as a father doth his children. Numb. xi. 11. And Mofes faid unto the Lord,

all

Wherefore haft thou afflicted thy fervant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy fight, that thou layeft the burden of all this people upon me? v. 12. Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them? that thou shouldt fay unto me, carry them in thy bofom, (as a nurfing father beareth the fucking child) unto the land which thou fwareft unto their fathers?

i1 Cor. iv. 14. I write not these things to fhame you, buts my beloved fons I warn you. v. 15. For tho' you have ten thousand inftructors in Chrift, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Chrift Jefus I have begotten you through the gospel. v. 16. Wherefore I beseech you be ye followers of me. 2 Kings v, 13. (See letter e.)

126. k Eph. v. 21. Submitting yourfelves one to another in the fear of God. I Pet. ii. 17. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Rom. xii. 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another. S 3

1127,

all due reverence in heart 1, word m, and behaviour ng prayer and thakfgiving for them o; imitation of their virtues and graces p; willing obedience to their lawful commands, and counfels 7; due fubmiffion to their correcti

127. / Mal. i. 6. A fon honoureth his father, and a fervant his mafter: If then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a mafter, where is my fear? faith the Lord of hofts unto you, O priests, that defpife my name and ye fay, Wherein have we depifed thy name? Lev. xix. 3. Ye thall fear every nian his mother, and his father, and keep my fab. baths: I am the Lord your God,

m Prov. xxxi. 28. Her children arife up and call her bleffed: her husband allo, and he praiseth her. 1 Pet. iii, 6. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whofe daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any

amazement

n Lev. xix. 32. Thou shalt rife up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord 1 Kings 19. Bathsheba therefore went un to King Solomon, to speak unto hun for lonijah; and the king role up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and fat down on his tirone, and caufed a feat to be fet for the king's mother; and the fat on his right hand.

• 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that first 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; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinefs and honefty.

pHeb. xiii. 7. Remember them who have the rule over you, who have fpoken unto you the word of God whofe faith follow, confider

ons;

ing the end of their, converfation, Phil. iii. . Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them whỏ walk fo, as ye have us for an enfample.

q Eph. vi. 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. v. 2. Honour thy father and mother, (which is the first commandment with promise.) v. 5. Ser vants be obedient to them that are your mafters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in finglenefs of your heart, as unto Christ; v, 6. Not with eye-fervice, as menpleafers, 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 men. 1 Pet. ii. 13, Submit yourselves 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. xiii, 1. Let every foul be fubject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be, are ordained of God. V. 2. Whosoever therefore refifteth the power, refifteth the ordinances of cod: and they that refift thall receive to themselves damnation. v. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works,but tothe evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou that have praife of the fame : V. 4. For he is the minifter of Gud to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he

bear

ons r; fidelity tof, defence t, and maintenance of their perfons and authority, according to their feveral ranks and the nature of their places; bearing with their infirmities,

and

Tit. ii. 9. Exhort fervants to be obedient unto their own maffers, and to please them well in all things; not anfwering again. v, 10. Not purloining, but fhewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

beareth not the fword in vain for it patiently, this is acceptable with he is the minifter of God, a reven、 God. ger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. v. 5. Wherefore ye muft needs be fubject, not only for wrath, but alfo for confcience fake, Heb, xiii. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit your felves: for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give ac Count; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Prov. iv. 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 command ments and live. Prov. xxiii. 22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and defpife not thy mother when she is old. Exod. xviii, 19. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God fhall be with thee. v. 24. So Mofes hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had faid.

r Heb. xii. 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 Spirits, and live? 1 Pet, ii. 18. Servants, be fubject to your malters 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, fuffering wrongfully. v. 20. For what glory is it, it when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye fhall take it patiently? but if when ye do well, and fuffer for it, ye take

1 Sam. xxvi. 15. And David faid to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Ifrael? wherefore then haft thou not kept thy lord the king? for there caine one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. v. 16. This thing is not good that thou haft done: as the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, becaufe ye have not kept your mafter the Lord's anointed. 2 Sam. xviii, 3. But the people answered, Thou shalt 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 fuccour us out of the city. Efth. vi. 2. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlaims, the keepers of the door, who fought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

Mat. xxii. 21. They fay unto him, Cefar's. Then faid he unto them, Render unto Cefar the things which are Cefar's: and unto God the things that are God's. Rom. xiii. 6. For, for this caufe pay you tribute alfo: for they are God's miniflers attending continually upon this very thing. v. 7. Render therefore

and covering them in love w, that fo they may be an honour to them, and to their government x.

Q128. What are the fins of inferiors against their fuperiors? A. The fins of inferiors against their fuperiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them y; envying at z, contempt ofa, and

to all their dues : tribute to whom tribute is due, cuftom to whom cultom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. 1 Tim. v. 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 fhalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labour er is worthy of his reward, Gal. vi. 6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that trasheth in all good things. Gen. xlv. II. And there will I nourish thee (for yet there are five years of famine) left thou, and thy houthold, and all that thou hast come to poverty. Gen. xlvii, 12. And Jofeph nourished his father and his brethren, and all his father's houfhold with bread, according to their fa milies.

w 1 Pet. ii, 18. Servants, be fubject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but alfo the froward. Prov, xxiii. 22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and defpife not thy mother when he is old. Gen. ix. 23. And Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their fhoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they faw not their father's nakednefs.

x Efal cxxvii. 3. Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. v,

4. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man: fo are children of the youth. v. 5. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they fhall not be afhamed, but they fhall fpeak with the enemies in the gate. Prov. xxxi. 23. Her husband is known in the gates, when he fitteth among the elders of the land.

128, y Mat. xv. 4. For God commanded, faying, Honour thy father and mother, and, He that curfeth. father or mother, let him die the death. v. 5. But ye fay, Whofoeever fhall fay to his father or his mother, it is a gift by whatsoever thou mighteft be profited by me. v. 6. And honour not his father or his mother he fhall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition,

z Num. xi. 28. And Joshua the fon of Nan, the fervant of Mofes, one of his young men, answered and faid, My lord Mofes, forbid them. V. 29. And Mofes faid unto him, Envieft thou for my fake?

Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them.

a 1 Sam. viii. 7. And the Lord faid unto Samuel, Ficarken unto the voice of the people, in all that they fay unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I fhould not reign over them. Ifa. . 5. And the people fhall be opprcffed, every one by a nother, and every one by his neighbour: the child fhall behave him

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