A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 1 · Subpart 2 · Section 6
6. Disobedient to Parents. foreign. Parentibus non obedientes.
Next unto God, our Parents are to be loved and obeyed; he that dares blaspheme the one,Qui Deo maleditunt quomodo parentès venerarentur? novit arrogantia quae ex blaspemia est, etiam adversus naturam efferri, non ergò solùm Deum quem non vident▪ sed & parentes quos cernunt, ii despiciunt… Espencaeus. will never fear to abuse the other; he that dares revile his Heavenly Father, will not stick to rebell against an earthly one: Hence Haters of God, and disobedient to Parents, are yoakt together in the same Predicament. Rom. 1.30. This is a branch of pride, 'tis that which makes men so refractory,foreign, immorigeri, inobedientes, insuasibiles, contumaces, refractarii ab … privat. & foreign, persuadec. and rebellious, that no perswasions of their superiours, can work upon them, nor any intreaties winne them to obedience. The words are indefinite, and equivalent to an Universall.Videtur Parentum nomen in genere amplectiomnes qui nobis praesunt. Baldwin. In the last dayes, men shall be disobedient to Parents, in the Plurall number. viz.
To Parents.
Naturall,
Politicall,
Spirituall,
Domesticall.
1. In the last dayes, men shall be disobedient to their naturall Parents of both sexes,Omnia sunt generaliter accipienda, nisi ubi aliud specialiter urgent circumstantiae. Mercer. Father and Mother. Thefe especially are here implyed in the word Parents, though I shall not exclude the latter, since the Character in its fullest Latitude, suits so fully with our times.
1. Was there ever more contempt of Naturall Parents? is not the complaint generall, that the youth of our age is exceeding Haughty, Vaine, Light, Loose, Hypocriticall, and Rebellious to Parents? it may be, whilest they be rich, and can give them something, they will shew some externall Reverence and Obedience out of Self-respects, that they may get something from them: but let those Parents become Poor, Old, Sick, or a little burdensome, to them; then oh what Bitter, Saucy, Reproachfull words: what harsh, Vexatious, and Uncivill carriage, do they expresse towards them, as if they were some base Peasants, rather then their naturall Parents? The Storks of Heaven shall rise in Judgement against the rebellious children of this age, for such is their naturall affection to their dams, that they feed them when they are old;V. Franzium de animalibus. P, 2. c. 8. p. 266. That is a singular piece for describing the Nature of most creatures. Parentes suos non amare, impietas est: non agnoscere, insania. Est hoc animi perversissimi indicium, quia Lex naturae jubet, ut benefactoribus bona referatur gratia, inter quos primum locum obtinent Parentes, quibus' vita hujus initium debemus, & quorum labore educati sumus. Gualter. and 'tis but reason, that as our Parents, have nursed and nourished us, so we should do the like for them, if need require; this is called a requiting of their love, and is very pleasing in the sight of God. 1 Tim. 5.4. We must not only love them, and reverence them externally, and internally, but we must shew our love by succouring, and supporting them in all their necessities: and so far as we are able, we must answer their tender cost and care to us by doing good to them again. So did Ioseph, Gen. 47.12. and Christ commends the care of his Mother to Iohn. 19.26, 27. so Ruth 2.18. 1 Sam. 22, 3, 4. consider the heavie curses which God denounceth against such as contemn their Parents. God will suddenly cut them off, they shall not live out half their dayes. Deut. 27.16. Prov. 20.20. As God prolongs the life of the Obedient. Ephes, 6, 3. So he hath threatned shamefull death to the disobedient. Prov. 30.17. the Ravens shall pick out their eyes. (i. e.) they shall be put to an untimely death,V. Theater of Gods Judgements. l. 2. c. 1. and hanging on a tree, they shall be meat for Ravens, and the fowles of the aire. So Deut. 21.18, 19, 21, 22. Lev. 20.9. Mark 7.10.
2. As thou hast been ungratefull to thy Parents, so thy children shall be ungratefull to thee.In quo quis peccat in eo punitur. As men mete to others (especially their Parents) so God raiseth up some usually to mete to them again. A scoffing Ham is punisht with a profane Canaan, and both of them are punisht in the cursed Canaanites that descended from them, and proved Imitatours of their Fathers wickednesse. Gen. 9.25. This was one of those sins which caused the day of Ierusalems sorrow to draw near. Ezek. 22.7. I wish it be not a fore-run-runner of some judgement to this Nation.
2. Magistrates are the politicall fathers of our country. Gen. 45.8. Iudg. 5.7. 1 Sam. 24.11. Lam. 3.3. God commands us to honour them, yet how do those filthy Dreamers (as S. Iude 8. stiles them) despise dominions, and speakevill of dignities; as if God had given them a command to dishonour and abuse them. We have those that shew not so much as externall Revererence to them. How unlike are these to the Saints of old. Mephibosheth falls on his face before David, 2 Sam. 9.6. and Nathan bowes himselfe before him. 1 Kings 1.23.
Object. Many of our Magistrates are carnall, wicked men.
Answ. Admit they are so, yet they are Magistrates still, and are deputed by God to that office having power and authorite from him, and in this respect, though they be never so vile and wicked, yet, we are to give them all due Reverence and respect both internall and externall. Saul was a wicked man, a persecuter of holy David, and Ionathan; yet David respects him as the Lords anointed still. 1 Sam. 24.6. The sonnes of Heth were Heathens, yet Abraham bowed himselfe unto them. Gen. 23.7. Esau is expressely called a profane man. Heb. 12.16. yet Iacob calls him my Lord Esau, and bowed seven times before him. Gen. 33.3. Festus was none of the best, yet Paul gives him his Titles of honour. Acts 26.25. Most noble Festus, and if we must pray for Nero's and Tyrants, and all in authority, which is the great work. 1 Tim. 2.2. then surely we may bow in a civil way unto them, uncover our heads and give them respective language. How then can those Monsters, rather then men, boast of their sanctity, when they have not common civ…ity? or say they love God, when they slight his Vice-gerents,See Gods Judgements on such. Theater of Gods Judgement. l, 2. c. 2. p. 158. and Substitutes.
3. Ministers of Christ are spirituall fathers, they are Instruments of our Conversion and Regeneration.Per Parentes intelligit specialiter veros doctores qui alios per Evangelium genacrunt. Prim…sius. 1 Cor. 4.14, 15. Elisha calls Elijah his Father, 2 Kings 2.12. and 6.21. and 13, 14. Iudg. 18.19. 1 Tim. 1.2. Titus 1.3. now when was there ever more contempt cast upon the Ministers of Christ solely, because they are his messengers; and that by a company of proud, censorious Sectaries and Seducers; unsetlted, turbulent, arrogant spirits; raging waves of the Sea, foaming out their own shame. Iude 13.See my Pulpit Guard. 4. Edit. p. 77.78. Calling us Witches, Devills, Serpents, Antichrists, &c. They forget that Ministers are by Office Elders, and the Apostle would have such to be used with more reverence and respect then ordinary men. 1 Tim. 5.1. But such railing is the Livery we must expect from this ungratefull world. Thus did they revile the Prophets, Apostles, yea and Christ himself; he was called a mad-man, a wine bibber, a devill. And if they have called the Master of the House,See D. Haris on Matth. 5.11. Serm. 24. and Mr. Pemble on 1 Cor. 15.19. in Folio. p. 478. Beelzebub; what may the servant expect, Matth. 10.25. Thus they called Cyprian, Coprian; Athanasius, Sathanasius; Calvin, Cain; and Forell, Devill; no sooner is a man a faithfull Minister of Christ, but he is half a Martyr. But let such Raylers know, that they carry about them the black marks of unregenerate men, and such as never tasted the Power and comfort of our Ministery; yea, and, except God give them Repentance, of Reprobation.
4. Masters of Families are called Fathers. Thus Naamans servant calls him, My Father. 2 Kings 5.23. How do these also complain of the abuses of their servants? The heeles are now where the head should be. Every Iack looks now upon himself as a Fellow-creature with his Master, and some think themselves Superiour; especially if the Master be a carnall man, and themselves have a little smattering in Religion, then they think they may leave their callings, and run from the shop into the Pulpit, contrary to that, 1 Cor. 7.20. let every man abide in his owne calling. 'Tis true, as a Master is a wicked man, and commands wicked things,Malo in malo non est obediendum, as to profane the Sabbath, lye, cozen, &c. he may not be obeyed; 'tis no dishonour to earthly Masters, to see their Heavenly Master preferred before them. Thus we may not be the servants of men. (1 Cor. 7.23.) To obey their wicked commands; he speaks in respect of conscience, and in regard of the inward man: He forbids not bodily service to men, for a wicked Master, though he be never so vile, yet commanding such things, as a Master may command by vertue of his place, is to be obeyed; as appeares, 1 Tim. 6.1, 2. he speaks of servants that had Infidels to their Masters, he would have them so to carry themselves towards such Masters, as accounting them worthy of all honour; not derogating ought from their obedience, because themselves are called to the knowledge and profession of Christ: yea they must the rather be carefull to walk honestly and uprightly, that they may credit the Gospel, and winne their Masters to Christ. However it be, yet servants must not faile in their duty, because Masters are carelesse of theirs.
Object. The Anabaptists of our time object, That in Christ all are equall. Gal. 3.28. and therefore there should be no difference between Master and Servant, for Christ hath purchased Liberty for u… ▪ and hath made us free from Subjection. Gal. 5.2.
Answ. Subordinata non sunt contraria. Our Spirituall priviledges do not abrogate our civill respects to our Superiours. And though beleevers as they are in Christ, are all one and equall; yet considered as they are members of a Politick body, and in civill respects, so there is an inequality; and though Christ hath freed us from the curse of the Law, and from the Tyranny of sin, and Satan; yet he hath not freed us from subjection to men according to those ranks and callings he hath set us in. Hence even in Gospell-times, we read of Master and Servants, Superiours and Inferiours, with directions how Inferiours should walk towards Superiours. Rom. 13. and Servants toward their Masters. Ephes. 6.5, 6, 7. with promises to reward such as conscienciously perform the duties of their place. V. 8.
Object. But my Master is harsh and cruell.
Answ. Yet you must obey, and so be subject not only to good Masters, but also to the froward, 1 Pet. 2.18. Sarah dealt hardly with Hagar, yet the Angell bids her return and submit her self to her Mistris, Genesis 16.6. 'Tis a crosse and affliction which the most wise God hath allotted to you, and you must bear it patiently.