A Treatise of Christian Religion, Chapter 20
CHAP. 20.
Of the fifth Commandement.
Of the duties of Inferiors to Superiors, and of Superiors to Inferiors ariſing there from. Superiours are
without authoritie, by gifts
Naturall,
of
Perſon.
Age.
of Parts,
Minde.
Body.
Accidentall.
with authority
Priuate,
By nature
Husbands and wiues.
Parents, Children.
Otherwiſe, as Maſters and Seruants.
Publike in the
Church, Miniſters.
Common-wealth, Magiſtrates.
EXOD. 20. 12. Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy daies may bee long vponupon the land, which the Lord thy God giueth thee.
Q. VVHat is the fifth Commandement?
A. Honour thy father, &c.
Q. What is the ſumme of the Commandement?
A. All ſpeciall duties required in regard of ſpeciall callings and differences, which God hath made betweene ſpeciall perſons.
Q. What be thoſe ſpeciall perſons?
A. Superiours, and Inferiours.
Q. What are Superiours?
A. They are ſuch, as by Gods ordinance hauehave a2. King. 5. 13. & 6. 21. 1. Cor. 4. 15. 2. King. 2. 12. & 13. 14. Coloſſ. 3. 12.preeminence, and are heere termed by the name of Parents; to whom the firſt and principall duties required in this Commandement, do appertaine.
Q. Why are all Superiours called here by the name of Parents?
A. Firſt, for that the name of Parents, being a moſt ſweet name, men might therby be allured (the rather) to the duties they owe; whether they bee duties that are to bee performed to them that are properly ſo called, or which they ſhould performe to others.
Secondly, for that at the firſt, and in the beginning of the world, Parents were alſo Magiſtrates, & Paſtors.
Q. How doth this agree with the Cōmandemēt of Christ, that we ſhould aMark 3. 7. 8.call no man Father or Maſter vponupon earth?
A. Very wel: for there our Sauiour meaneth only, to reſtraine the ambitious titles of the Phariſies in thoſe daies, which deſired not onelyonly ſo to bee called, but that men ſhould reſt in their authority alone, for matters concerning the ſoule.
Q. Who are inferiours?
A. Such as (by the ordinance of God) are any way vnderunder Superiours; and who are principally and in the firſt place, to perform the duties required in this Commandement.
Q. VVhat are the ſpeciall duties required?
A. They are here comprehended vnderunder the word Mal. 1. 9.Honour.
Q. Why ſo?
A. Becauſe it addes an ornament and dignitie to them.
Q. What is the honour that Inferiours owe to Superiours in generall?
A. Reuerence of the mind, declared by ſome ciuill behauiour, or outward ſubmiſſion; as of riſing before them, & of giuing thē the honor of ſpeaking firſt, &c.Leuit. 19. 32. Iob. 29. 8. & 32. 6. 7.
Q. VVhat is the dutie of Superiours towards their Inferiors in that reſpect?
A. To carrie themſelues ſo, as they may bee worthie the honour that is giuen them.
Q. How many ſorts of Superiours are there?
A. Two: without authority, and with authority.
Q. VVho are Superiours without authority?
A. Such as God hath by Age onelyonly, or by ſome ſupereminent gifts, lifted aboue others: as the elder before the yonger; the skilfull, before him that hath leſſe skill.
Q. VVho are inferiours to ſuch?
A. They who are yonger, and of meaner gifts.
Q. VVhat is our dutie towards ſuch Superiours?
A. Firſt, to acknowledge the things wherein God hath preferred them before vsus, and to reſpect them for it. Secondly, to make our benefit of their good graces, ſo farre as our calling will ſuffer.
Q. What is the dutie of them towards vsus?
A. Firſt, they who are Superiours in yeeres, are by graue, wiſe and godly cariage of themſelues, to procure reuerence vntounto themſelues: On the one ſide auoiding lightneſſe and variableneſſe; of the other, too much ſeuereneſſe and auſterity.
Secondly, they who are Superiours in knowledge and skil, are to vſe their skill ſo, as others may be benefited 1. Pet. 4. 10.by them.
Q. Who are the Superiours with authority?
A. Such as by ſpecial office and calling hauehave charge ouer others.
Q. What are the Inferiours?
A. Such as be committed vntounto their charge.
Q. What generall all dutie is there betweene the Superiours and Inferiours of this ſort?
A. To pray more eſpecially one for another.1. Tim. 2. 1. Pſal. 20. & 21. Gen. 24. 12. Pſal. 3. 9. & 25. 22 and 28. 9.
Q. What is required of the Inferiours?
A. Two things: ſubiection, and obedience, Rom. 13. 1.
Q. What is ſubiection?
A. An humble and readie minde to ſubmit themſelues, to their gouernment who are ſet ouer them, in acknowledging the neceſſity of their power in gouerning Rom. 13. 1. Tit. 3. 1. 1. Tim. 6. 1.them.
Q. What is obedience?
A. A voluntarie & heartie doing of that which the Superiours command, or patient ſuffering of that they ſhall inflict vponupon them; albeit it ſhould be either without Epheſ. 6. 5. 6. 7. 1. Pet. 2. 19. 20.iuſt cauſe, or ſomewhat more exceſſiuely then the cauſe requireth.
Q. Is there no restraint of this obedience?
A. None, ſauing that which we owe vntounto God; in regard whereof, our obedience to them muſt bee in Epheſ. 6. 1. & 5. 24. 1. Sam. 22. 17.the Lord; that is, only in lawfull things; otherwiſe we are with reuerence to refuſe, and alleage our duty vntounto God for our warrant.
Q. VVhat is the duty of ſuch Superiours towards their ours?
A. Prudently, and after a holy manner, to gouerne ſuch as are committed vntounto them, not as Tyrants, but as thoſe which hauehave a Gouernour aboue them, to whom they ſhall giuegive an account: and as thoſe which rule ouer ſuch as hauehave a title vntounto, and ſhall bee partakers Epheſ. 6. 9. 1. Pet. 3. 7.of the ſame glory, which themſelues looke for.
Q. In what things doth this Gouernment conſiſt?
A. In two: direction, and recompence or reward.
Q. VVherein conſisteth direction?
A. In word, and in worke.
Q. What must be done by word?
A. They muſt inſtruct and command them in the Gen. 18. 19.things which pertaine to God, and to their ſpeciall callings: and heerein God hath declared his ſingular care of the euerlaſting good of men: who hath therefore commended the care of Religion to ſo many, to the end they might be ſo much more aſſuredly kept in the feare of God.
Q. What is direction in worke?
A. Good example of life, whereby they are to go before their Inferiours.
Q. Hitherto of Direction: What is Recompence?
A. It is either a cheerefull reward for well doing, or a iuſt chaſtiſement for euill; which both ſhould be anſwerable to the deed done.
Q. How many kindes of Superiours are there with authority?
A. Two: priuate, and publike, and conſequently ſo many Inferiours.
Q. VVho are priuate Superiours and Inferiours?
A. Such as are Maſters of a familie, whether naturall, as husband and wife, parents and children; or otherwiſe, as Maſters, and ſeruants: where firſt the huſbands are Superiours to their wiues; then Parents to their children; and laſtly, Maſters to their ſeruants.
Q. VVhat is the generall duty of Inferiours in a Family?
A. According to their places and gifts, to performe Gen. 39. 2. 3. 4.that which is commanded by the gouernours therof, for the good of the houſhold.Gen. 18. 8.
Q. What is the duty of the Superiours in the houſhold?
A. Prouiſion of food and raiment, both ſufficient, Prou. 27. 23. 24. 25. Prou. 31 15. Gen. …8. 6. 7. 8. 1. Tim. …. 8.and agreeable to eueryevery ones eſtate, with conuenient gouernment: after, familiarly to teach them, and to goe before them in prayer accordingly.
Q. VVhat are the common duties of the husband and wife each to other?
A. Mutuall and coniugall louelove one towards another, declared by mutuall helpe; and a1. Cor. 7. 3.due beneuolence, except by conſent for a time, that b1. Cor. 7. 5. 2. Sam. 11. 11.they may giuegive themſelues to faſting and prayer.
Q. What is the duty of wiues to their husbands?
A. Firſt, ſubiection, in a gentle and moderate kinde Epheſ. 5 22.and manner: for albeit it bee made heauier then it was from the beginning, through the tranſgreſſion of the woman; yet that yoke is eaſier then any other domeſticall ſubiection. Secondly, in ſubiection they are, to performe obedience, wherein wiues are oft ſhort, Epheſ. 5. 33. 1. Pet. 3. 1-6.as husbands in louelove.
Secondly, ſhe muſt repreſent (in all godly and commendable matters) his image in her behauiour: that 1. Cor. 11. 7.in her a man may ſee the wiſedome and vprightneſſe of her husband.
Thirdly, ſhe muſt bee an helper vntounto him, as otherwiſe, Gen. 2. 18. Prou. 31. 12. 1. Tim. 3. 11.ſo by ſauing that which he bringeth in.
Q. What is the husbands dutie to his wife?
A. In an entire louelove vntounto her, to defend her from Epheſ. 5.all euill, and cheriſh her, as he would cheriſh his owne fleſh, and as Chriſt doth his Church.
Q. What is the dutie of children to their Parents?
A. It is either generall, or ſpeciall, viz. in the caſe of mariage.
Q. What is the generall?
A. So to carrie themſelues, whiles they are vnderunder Prou. 10. 1. and 17. 25. & 31. 28.their parents tuition, and after they are departed from them, as they may cauſe their parents (in their good bringing vp) to be commended.
Q. What is the ſpeciall dutie in caſe of marriage?
A. That they ought not ſo much as attempt, to beſtow themſelues in marriage, without their Parents Gen. 24. Iudg. 14. 2. Gen. 21. 21. and 27. 46. & 28. 9. 1. Cor. 7. 36. 37. 38.direction and conſent, eſpecially daughters.
Q. What reaſon hauehave you to perſwade children vntounto this dutie?
A. That ſeeing their Parents hauehave taken ſuch great paines and trauell in bringing them vp, they ſhould reape ſome fruits of their labours in beſtowing of them; beſide, they ſhould giuegive them this honour, to eſteeme them better able, and more wiſe to prouide for their comfortable marriage, then themſelues are.
Q. Is this dutie required onelyonly of children to their naturall parents that begat them?
A. No: it is alſo in ſome degree required of children to their Vnkles, and Aunts; or to any other vnderunder Heſt. 2. 10. 20. Ruth. 2. 18. 23.whom they are, and that be in ſtead of Parents, when Parents are dead.
Q. VVhat is the ſecond dutie of children to their Parents?
A. That if their Parents ſtand in need of reliefe, 1. Tim. 5. 4. Gen. 45. 11. & 47. 62.they (being able) are to helpe them.
Q. So much of the duties of children to their Parents: what are thoſe of Parents towards their children?
A. They are either common to both Parents, or particular to either of them.
Q. What are the common duties of both Parents?
A. They muſt marke the wits and inclinations of Prou. 20. 11. & 22. 6. Gen. 4. 2.their children; and as farre as their owne ability will reach, they are accordingly to apply them to ſome honeſt calling in due time.
Q. What is the ſecond common dutie?
A. To lay vp and prouide ſomwhat for their children; 2. Cor. 12. 14. Prou. 19. 14.and what they hauehave receiued of their Anceſtors, to leaue the ſame (where it may be done lawfully) to their poſterity.
Q. What ſpeciall dutie is there of the Parents to the eldeſt ſonne?
A. That ſith the Lord hath honoured him with Gen. 49. 3. 4.that dignitie, as to be their ſtrength; he ſhould alſo be Deut. 21. 17.honoured of them (at the leaſt) with a double portion, as of the reſt of the brethren with honour: yet ſo, as hee fall nor from his honour by ſome horrible ſin.Gen. 49. 4.
Q. So much of the common duties to both: what is required of the father eſpecially?
A. To giuegive the name vntounto the child. For notwithſtanding Gen. 35. 18. Luk. 1. 62. 63.that the mothers hauehave ſomtimes giuen the names, yet that hath bin by permiſſion of the fathers.
Q. What ſpeciall dutie is laid vponupon the mother?
A. aGen. 21. 7. 1. …am 1. 23. 1. Tim. 5. 10. 1. Tim. 2. 15. Gen. 24. 10. 1…. Epheſ. 6. 5. 6.To nurſe the child, if ſhe be able.
Q. What is the duty of the ſeruant to the Maſter?
A. With care and faithfulneſſe (as in the preſence of God) to beſtow himſelfe wholly (at the times appointed) to his Maſters buſineſſe.
Q. What is the Maſters dutie?
A. To recompence his ſeruice, according as the Deut. 24. 14. 15. & 15. 13. 14.Lord hath bleſſed him by his labour.
Q. Hitherto of Superiours in priuate, as alſo of Inferiours: what are they in publike?
A. Such as gouerne and are gouerned in Church and Common-wealth.Lam. 4. 3. 4.
Q. What is the dutie of all inferiours to their publike Superiours?
A. To miniſter charges, and other things neceſſarie for the execution of their offices, and to their power to defend them in the ſame.
Q. What is due from them to their Inferiours?
A. To procure their common good, they hauing Exod. 18. 13. 2. Sam. 24. 17. Matth. 11. 2. 1. Theſſ. 2. 7. 8.receiued the charge of them, forgetting themſelues, and their owne priuate good, ſo oft as need ſhall require.
Q. Who are Gouernours in the Church?
A. The Miniſters of the Word eſpecially.
Q. Who are they which are gouerned?
A. All Chriſtians, and profeſſors of Religion.
Q. What is their principall dutie to the Ministers of the word?
A. To heare them willingly, and to ſubmit themſelues to all, that they ſhall plainly and directly teach Mal. 10. 14. Heb. 13. 17.them, out of the word of God.
Q. What is the principall dutie of the Miniſter to them?
A. To bee faithfull and painfull in diſpenſing to 2. Tim. 4. 1. Act. 20. 26.them the will of God, and not their owne fanſies, or the inuentions of men.
Q. Who are Gouernours in Common-weales?
A. Ciuill Magiſtrates.
Q. Who are vnderunder their gouernment?
A. All perſons and ſubiects in the Realme, Citie, or Rom. 13. 1.State, where they are Gouernours.
Q. VVhat is the ſpeciall duty of ſuch Subiects?
A. To obey their Lawes in the Lord, and to pay willingly all Cuſtome and Tribute due to them.Rom. 13. 6. 7.
Q. What are the duties of the Superiours in the Common-wealth, (as Kings, and inferiour Magiſtrates)?
A. They are twofold: Firſt, in reſpect of Gods 1. Tim. 2. 2.matters. Secondly, in regard of ciuill affaires.
Q. What in reſpect of Gods matters?
A. To ſee that true Religion bee ſtabliſhed, reformed 2. Chron. 14. 3. 4. & 15. 12-15. & 17. 6-9.and maintained, after the example of Dauid, Salomon, Ezechiah, Ioſiah, and other good Kings; to ſee thoſe ordinances of Religion, which are grounded vponupon the word of God, duly eſtabliſhed & practiſed; that ſo God may be truly ſerued and glorified, and the Churches within their Realmes, and vnderunder their gouernment, may vnderunder them leade a quiet and a peaceable life, in all godlineſſe and honeſty. For hee who neglecteth this duty to God, ſhall neuer performe his dutie 1. Tim. 2. 2.to men, how politicke ſoeuer he ſeeme to be.
Q. What is the Magiſtrate ſpecially to performe in reſpect of ciuill affaires?
A. Hee muſt looke to the peace of the Common-wealth, 1. Tim. 2. 1.ouer which he is ſet, and that iuſtice therein be Dan. 4. 7. 8. 9. Rom. 13. 4. 5. Pſalm. 72. 2. 48. 7.duly executed, that eueryevery man may enioy his owne: that the good may bee cheriſhed, and euill doers puniſhed.
Q. So much of the duties betweene Superiours and Inferiours. What is required of equals?
A. Firſt, that they liue together ſociably, and comfortably, Philip. 2. 3. Rom. 12 10. 1. Pet. 2. 17. & 5. 5. Epheſ. 5. 21.and not exalt themſelues one aboue another; but that they goe one before another, in giuing honor.
Q. So much of the Commandement: what is the reaſon of the Commandement?
A. That thy daies, &c. which is a promiſe of long Eſay 65. 20.life, to ſuch as ſhall keepe this Commandement.
Q. HaueHave not the other Commandements this promiſe?
A. No, not expreſly; which ſheweth, that a more plentiful bleſſing in this kind, followeth from the obedience of this Commandement, then of the other that follow. Hence it is called by the Apoſtle, the firſt Commandement with aEpheſ. 6. 1. 2.promiſe, it being the firſt in order of the ſecond Table, and the onelyonly Commandement of that Table that hath an expreſſe promiſe; and the onelyonly Commandement of the ten, that hath a particular promiſe. Hence it is, that the Lord reuēgeth the breach of this Commandement ſo often in this life. Firſt, vponupon the parents-who hauehave been themſelues vngracious, in giuing vntounto them vngracious and diſobedient children; and then vponupon the children themſelues, who are ſomtimes immediately ſtricken from heauen, and ſometimes puniſhed by the hand of the Magiſtrate.
Q. But how is this promiſe truly performed; ſeeing ſome wicked men liue long, and the godly are taken away, euen in the middeſt of their time?
A. The godly liue ſo long as it ſhall ſerue for Gods glory, and for their owne good: but the wicked liue to their further condemnation. And herein God doth Eſay 65. 20.not a whit breake his promiſe; for if he promiſe a man ſiluer, and pay him with gold, and that in greater weight and quantity, he doth him no iniurie, and the wicked gaine nothing by their long life, receiuing (by meanes thereof) greater iudgement in hell.