Abridgment of the Whole Body of Divinity, Part 2 · Subpart 15
The fifth Commandment.
Honour thy Father and thy Mother:Fifth Commandment. that thy days may be long upon the land, which thy Lord thy God giveth thee.
The Affirmative part of this, is this.
Here is commanded reverence,Affirmative parts. or civil respect to the aged, and gray hairs where it is found in the way of holiness, Levit. 19. 32. wisdom 4. 8. 9. Prov. 16. 31.
Obedience to the Lawfull commands of Parents, Rom. 1. 30. Eph. 6. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 9.
And relief of them when they stand in need, 2 Tim. 3. 3.
Here we are commanded to obey superiours, yea, though cruel, but not in wickedness, Rom. 13. 1. 2. 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14. 18. Act. 4 19. 1 Pet. 2. 19. 20. Genes. 16. 6. 9. Colloss. 3. 23. 24. Rom. 13. 1. 2.
And to pray for Superiours, for Elders that rule well, and for such as are in Authority, 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2. and 5. 17.
We are here commanded to salute one another with holy signs, 1 Pet. 5. 14. Rom. 16. 16. Thus did Moses salute Jethro, Exod. 18. 7. Jacob the Shepherds, Genes. 29. 4. And Boaz the reapers, Ruth 2. 4.
Here Superiours are commanded to carry themselves as brethren to inferiours, Deut. 17. 20. As did Iob to his servants, as did Naaman to Elisha, 2 Kings 5. 13. 14.
They must be as lights to shine before others by good example of a blameless life, Tit. 2. 2. 3. 1 Pet. 5. 3. Phil. 4. 9.
They must rule in the Lord, Deut. 17. 19. Collos. 4. 1.
They must provide good things, both for the bodies & Souls, of those that are under authority, Rom. 13. 4. Isai 49. 23. Psal. 13 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
They must punish light faults by rebukes, and great faults by correction. First, In punishing.
They must make a diligent enquiry and examination concerning the fault committed.
Secondly, they must discover to the parties offending the grievousness of their Crimes, that they may be sensible of the evils they have done.
Thirdly, they must defer, and omit punishment, in hope of amendment, Eccls. 7. 23. 1 Sam. 10. 27.
Fourthly, they must punish in Gods Name, and not in their own; and that with an holy reverence, Deut. 25. 2. And as did Joshua Achan, Josh. 7. 19. 25.
Fifthly, in their punishing they must aim onelyonly at the glory of God, and the best good of the Soul of the party offending, as Prov. 20. 30.
Parents are here commanded to provide for the good estate of their Children. 1 Tim. 5. 10.
Cruelty must not be used in punishing, Eph. 6. 4. 9. Jam. 2. 13.
Here we are commanded as concerning our selves, to preserve the gifts and graces God hath put into us, Phil. 4. 8.
Men do offend against themselves, when they do extinguish the gifts of God, Matth. 25. 2. 26.
Natural Parents and Superiours are no otherwise to be obeyed, but in the Lord, Eph. 5. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 9.
By Parents here is meant natural Parents, Magistrates, Ministers, Elders, and such as excell in gifts of God. To the four first of these, men do ordinarily give honour, and they receive it as their due, Joh. 5. 44. But Christians faithfull men, and true believers, are by the command of Christ forbidden to call any man Father upon Earth, Matt. 23. 9. Or to esteem of themselves one greater then another, or to go about to take upon themselves any Authority, or Dominion one over another, Matth 18. 4. and 20. 25. 26.
The Negative part.
Here contempt of Superiours are forbidden,Negative part. Genes. 9. 22. Prov. 30. 17. Exo… 117. And disobedience. Rom. 1. 30. 2 Tim. 3. 2. Gen. 6. 2. & 28. 8. 9.
Parents are here forbidden cruelty to their Children, either in correction, threatning, or provocation, Eph. 6. 4. 9.
Servants are here forbidden stubborness, Titus 2. 6.
And deceitfulness, Tit. 2. 10.
To fly from their Masters, 16. 6. 9.
To resist lawfull Authority, 1 Pet. 2. 20.
And to obey unlawfull commands, Gen. 39. 12. Act. 4. 19.
Here is forbidden; The rebellious disobliging of Children, their lawfull duties to Parents, Matth. 15. 4. 5. 1 Tim. 5. 4.
And the disobliging of such as are now subjects. Their lawfull obedience to Princes, as 1 Sam. 26. 8. 9.
Here we are forbidden to offend our equals, either in word, or deed, Matth. 20. 20. 21. 24.