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rity, whether in family, church', or commonwealth.

Q. 125. Why are superiors styled father and mother?

A. Superiors are styled father and mother, both to teach them in all duties toward their inferiors, like natural parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their several relations"; and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents'.

Q. 126. What is the general scope of the fifth commandment?

A. The general scope of the fifth commandment, is the performance of those duties which we mu

handle the harp and organ. Gen. xlv. 8.-And he hath made me a father to Pharaoh.

e 2 Kings v. 13. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it?

Gal. iv. 19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you. 2 Kings ii. 12. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof! Kings xiii. 14.

Isa. xlix. 23. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers.

Eph. vi. 4. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 1 Thess. ii. 7, 8, 11. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. As ye know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children. Num. xi. 11, 12, 16.

i 1 Cor. iv. 14, 15, 16. I write not these things to shame you, but, as my beloved sons, I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet, have ye not many fathers:

tually owe in our several relations, as inferiors, superiors, or equals*.

Q. 127. What is the honour that inferiors owe to superiors?

A. The honour which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart', word", and: behaviour"; prayer and thanksgiving for them"; imitation of their virtues and graces; willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels;

for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel. Wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

Eph. v. 21. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 1 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.

1 Mal. i. 6. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master if then I be a father, where is my honour? and if 1 be a master, where is my fear? Lev. xix. 3. Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father.

m Prov. xxxi. 28. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 1 Pet. iii. 6. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord:-

" Lev. xix. 32. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man. 1 Kings ii. 19.-And she sat on his right-hand.

• 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority.

P Heb. xiii. 7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Phil. 3. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them whiba walk so, as ye have us for an ensample.

a Eph. vi. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7. Children, obey your parents in the Lord-Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters, according to the flesh, &c. 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto governors, &c. Rom. xii. from 1 to 6. Heb. xiii. 17. Prov. iv. 3, 4. and xxiii. 22.

due submission to their corrections"; fidelity to3, defence and maintenance of their persons and authority, according to their several ranks, and the nature of their places; bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love", that so they may be an honour to them and to their government*.

Heb. xii. 9. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence. 1 Pet. ii. 18, 19, 20. Servants, be subject to your masters, with all fear; but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Tit. ii. 9, 10. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

1 Sam. xxvi. 15, 16.-Wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king?-As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. 2 Sam. xviii. 3. Esth. vi, 2.

▾ Mat. xxii. 21. Render therefore unto Cesar, the things which are Cesar's. Rom. xiii. 6, 7.--For this cause pay ye tribute also for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custoin; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 1 Tim. v. 17, 18. Let the clders that rule ell, be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.-Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, the labourer is worthy of his reward. Gal. vi. 6. Gen. xlv. (1. and xlvii. 12.

w Gen. ix. 23. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. 1 Pet. ii. 18. Prov. xxiii. 22.

x Psal. cxxvii. 3, 4, 5. Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord.-Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. Prov. xxxi. 23. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

Q. 128. What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors?

A. The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them; envying at2, contempt ofa, and rebellion against their persons and places", in their lawful counsels, commands and corrections; cursing, mockings, and all such refractory and scandalous

Mat. xv. 4, 5, 6.—But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

2 Num. xi. 28, 29.-And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets.

a 1 Sam. viii. 7. For they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Isa. iii. 5. -The child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

b 2 Sam. xv. from verse 1 to 12. And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and herses, &c.

Exod. xxi. 15. ther, shall be surely a 1 Sam. x. 27. this man save us? no presents.

And he that smiteth his father, or his mo-
put to death.

But the children of Belial said, How shall
And they despised him, and brought him

1 Sam. ii. 25.-Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.

f Deut. xxi. 18, 19, 20, 21.-And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die.

Prov. xxx. 11. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. Verse 17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

carriage, as proves a shame and dishonour to them and their government".

Q. 129. What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?

A. It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to love', pray fork, and bless their inferiors'; to instruct", counsel, and admonish them"; countenancing, commending, and rewarding such as do well; and discountenancing", reproving, and chastising such

b Prov. xix. 26. He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

i Col. iii. 19. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Tit. ii. 4.

k1 Sam. xii. 23. Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. Job i. 5.

1 1 Kings viii. 55, 56. And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, &c. Gen. xlix. 28.

m Deut. vi. 6, 7. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

D

Eph. vi. 4. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

• 1 Pet. iii. 7. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of ife; that your prayers be not hindered.

P Rom. xiii. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.-Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. 1 Pet. ii. 14.

Esth. vi. 3. And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?

Rom. xiii. 4.-He is the minister of God,

execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

-a revinger