Milk for Babes, Questions · Question 12 – Question 13
12. Q. What is the fourth Commandement?
A. Exod. 20.8, 9, 10, 11.Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day. Six dayes ſhalt thou labour, and doe all thy work. But the ſeventh day is the ſabbath of the Lord thy God: In it thou ſhalt not doe any worke, thou, nor thy ſonne, nor thy daughter, thy man-ſervant, nor thy maid-ſervant, nor thy cattell, nor thy ſtranger that is within thy gates. For in ſix dayes the Lord made heaven, and earth, the ſea, and all that in them is, and reſted the ſeventh day: wherefore the Lord bleſſed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Here God requires the worſhipping of God by his owne meanes upon that time which is appointed. It is ſaid, What God requires in the fourth Commandement.That the Lord bleſſed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it, which thou muſt not conceive to be an idle repetition of words of the ſame value in ſo ſhort a ſumme: and therefore compare other Scriptures, and the ſenſe will be cleare and diſtinct unto. Eſau cries out to Jacob, Gen. 27.Bleſſe me, even me alſo my father, and then Jacob gave him a propheticall bleſſing, the fatneſſe of the earth, and the dew of heaven. Judg. 1.Achſah Caleb's daughter ask'd him a bleſſing, and what did ſhe mean? Springs above, and ſprings below, that is, a convenient ſituation for dwelling. So when God bleſſeth he gives a bleſſing to things, or perſons. Thus the Lord bleſſed, that is, gave a bleſſing to the Sabbath day. Before the giving of the Law, the bleſſing of Patriarchs who were Prieſts, Prophets, and Kings of their Families to regulate under, and from God the private, and publique worſhip. After the Law, the bleſſing of Levites, Priests, and Prophets. So in theſe times of grace, he gives the bleſſing of Apoſtles, Evangeliſts, Epheſ. 4.and Prophets by their writings, and Paſtors, and Doctors, by their teachings from the word, to be as bleſſings to the Lords day. Now, becauſe we are ſo worldly, and wicked, that we would not make uſe of this bleſſing of the means of worſhip by the Miniſtery of the Word, if we were left unto our ſelves: therefore God hath hallowed the ſeventh part of time, and ſet it apart to holy uſes, and enjoyned us to apply it to ſuch uſes, that we making uſe of this bleſſing, may learn to know God, and ſerve him with his owne worſhip, and in his owne manner. Marke then, that the meanes for the advancement of the worſhip of God is the bleſſing of the Miniſtery of the word of God, which is ſet apart for interpretation, and inſtruction of us in Gods will by the Scriptures. The time that God hath ſet apart for this end is the ſeventh part of time at the leaſt. For if he required of a Jew thus much, whoſe mercies were not ſo great, much more of us Chriſtians whoſe mercies are greater.
Vſe. Therefore (my good child) think this Commandement to be as Joſeph to provide for all the reſt: and when thou ſeeſt that all men are not Prophets, 1 Cor. 1.10nor all Teachers, but God hath gifted, out of all now, ſome to be apt to teach, by taking more ſpeciall heed to themſelves, to the word of God, to reading, and to doctrine: 1 Tim. 4.23and when thou conſidereſt that God challengeth the ſeventh part of time, that thou mayſt make uſe of the gifts of theſe men gifted for thy edification: and, laſtly, when thou weigheſt that that ſeventh part of time which was allotted to the Jews, as a type of Chriſts reſting in the grave, is now vaniſhed, and another ſeventh part of time conſecrated by the acts of Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, and the practiſe of the Church in all Ages, which is particularly called the Lords day (the like grounds for obſerving any other ſeventh part being impoſſible for us now to have): therefore, with all care, and conſcience, doe thou remember the time, and apply it unto holy uſes, both in preparation, and practiſe, that by the publique Miniſtery of the Word, and private meditation of it, and conference about it, and prayer to make it profitable to thee, thou maiſt make it a market day to thy ſoule to provide for the knowledge and ſervice of thy God, according to his good will both for matter, and manner.
Thus have I ſhewed the ſumme of the foure firſt Commandements, The ſum of the firſt Table.as thou art able to receive it now: and that thou conceive them clearly, Ile thus repreſent it unto thee. Thou art born into this world, and, when thou comeſt to yeers of diſcretion, then bethinkeſt thy ſelfe how thou mayſt live in after time. Firſt, therefore, thou putteſt thy ſelfe to a Maſter to bring thee up in ſome good Imployment. When thou haſt a Maſter, thou knoweſt that thou muſt doe his work. If thou doe his work, thou knoweſt thou muſt doe it in his manner. He had rather thou ſhould'ſt let it alone, then not doe it according to his mind: and in caſe he be not bodily preſent, but hath left his Stewards to give directions at ſet time, how he would have all his buſineſſe diſpatched according to his will, thou muſt wait upon them in their ſeaſons, that thou mayſt be punctuall and exact in all his affaires. Juſt thus muſt it be with thee in this buſineſſe for thy ſouls good. Thou deſireſt to know how it may be well with thee in aftertime. Therefore firſt thou muſt chooſe God to be thy onelyonly Lord, and Maſter: there is the firſt Commandement. Next, thou muſt doe his worke, and worſhip, not according to the fancies of Idolaters, but according to his will: there is the ſecond Commandment. Next, thou muſt doe it in his manner, ſo as it be not in vaine; Eſa. 1.for otherwiſe he will ſay, Who required this at thy hand? there is the third Commandement. And laſtly, becauſe he is not viſibly preſent, but hath left his Stewards and Ambaſſadours to direct thee in his will, at times by him appointed, therefore muſt thou, eſpecially at thoſe times, hang upon their lips, to be ſatisfied in thy Maſters will, that thou mayſt ſerve him with his own ſervice, and in his own manner.
Now proceed, and tell me:
13. Q. What is the fifth Commandement?
A. Exod. 20.12.Honour thy father, and thy mother: that thy dayes may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Here God eſtabliſheth Superiours, What God requires in the fifth Commandement.and Ineferiours, and their ſeverall duties. When he hath ordered every thing concerning himſelfe, and his worſhip; then thy good God comes to order the world. And, becauſe it can never be put in order by a parity, and equality, he doth eſtabliſh firſt the throne of excellency. He would not have Haile fellow, well met, in the world: but he would have ſome high, ſome low; ſome rich, ſome poore; ſome Governours, ſome governed; and ſome Superiours, ſome inferiours, for the better marſhalling, and ordering the world. There ſhall be fathers, and mothers; this he ſpeaketh to ſuperiours. Ye ſhall honour your fathers, and mothers; this he ſpeakes to inferiours. Fathers, and Mothers, are all thoſe that are in ſtate of excellency above thee. If they be more excellent in Age, as old men, and women, who beare an Image of Gods eternitie: or more excellent in Grace, who are fuller of Gods Spirit, and beare an Image of Gods goodneſſe: Or more excellent in Nature, who have priority in time of us, and are inſtruments of our derivation into the world, and ſo beare an Image of Gods Paternity: Or more excellent in Place, who have power, and government over us, and ſo beare an Image of Gods Soveraignty: all theſe are thy Fathers, and Mothers. Theſe are commanded to be Fathers, and Mothers, that is, ſo to carry themſelves in nature, in grace, in age, and in place, that they doe not lay their honours in the duſt, and make their inferiours to deſpiſe them. By honouring of father, and mother thou muſt underſtand, thoſe reſpects which are due to ſeverall excellencies. To naturall excellency Reverence, obedience, and all thankfulneſſe under God. To gracious excellency, acknowledgement, and ſubmiſſion. To ancient excellency reverent deportment: and to powerfull excellency, feare, and teſtification of it by obedience in the Lord, and for the Lords ſake.
Vſe. Therefore (my good child), admire the wiſdome of God here, who for the well ordering of the world hath ſettled the Chaire of ſtate, and put every one within his traces. If ever thou be a Father, or Mother any of theſe wayes, pray to thy God that thou carry thy ſelfe ſo, as honour from others may willingly flow to thee. Thou ſeeſt many who are Fathers and Mothers all theſe wayes, who carry themſelves unworthy of ſuch honour. This moves many young men to contemne the Aged; many children to deſpiſe their Parents; many of no gifts to contemne thoſe that have many; and many underlings to neglect thoſe that are in authoritie both to their ſinne and miſery. Again, as thou art an Inferiour give all due honour to all Paternitie, and motherhood. Riſe up before the hoarhead, and honour the perſons of the Aged. Acknowledge all the gifts, and graces of others, and make uſe of them for thy good. Be ſubject to the higher powers, not for feare of wrath, but for conſcience ſake. Be ſubject unto thy parents, and when they cannot provide for themſelves, doe thou thy beſt to provide for them; and then if thou have not a penny, thou ſhalt have a pound, if thou live not long in this world (which is not good enough for thee), thou ſhalt live for ever at Gods right hand where there is fulneſſe of pleaſures for evermore, which God grant unto thee.