A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 188 (Question 65)
SERMON CLXXXVIII.
QUESTION LXV.
WHAT is forbidden in the Fifth Commandment?
ANSWER.
THE Fifth Commandment forbiddeth, the Neglecting of, or doing any thing againſt, the Honour and Duty, which belongeth to every one in their ſeveral Places and Relations.
It is a general Rule, That when Precepts are underſtood, the Sins againſt them are Rationally inſerted: Ke…m eſt index ſut or …. And it is c…m…ted ſufficient, in the bring down the Doctrine of any Science, to give the beſitive Procepts or Canons which belong to it: But in the D…c…c of Religion, it is therefore not enough only to lay down what is Truth, but alſo to diſcover Error; not barely muſt tell what is Duty, but alſo to point out what is Son, by reaſon of the Pravity and Indiſpoſition of our Corrupt Natures which ar too apt … …o… Good, and God Evil, &c. Iſa. 5.20. Nevretheleſs. Having more diſtinctly laid open be ſeveral Pat… certain of under the Precept, I ſhall very liberty paſs over the Negative part of it.
We have alſo formerly conſidered. That a Command may he broken in T… regards, viz. Father by not thing the things re…a…red in it; why doing the things we ich…e. …n…rary to it: Liordingly our Anſner tel's us, That in this Command is f… …en, both the neglect of, and the dang that which is againſt the Honour and Day, which is due to and from Perſons, in the Order and Relation which God hath placed comein. When the Relation is not acknowledge, and the Reſpect belonging to it, is not … but a countrary Cauſings is expreſſed.
I ſhall hate wave the anſ…d Conſideration the Sirs of …, by which this Precept … lated; … …s the n…t doing of the …gs l…f… u…ned as Paties, fully diſeves them. And as to the Sins of Tr…ſſ…n, of Violation …hered to this Command, ſome brief Intimations may ſuffice: And we may take them up in the Order wherein we conſidered them under the former Anſwer.
Firſt, PARENTS are guilty of Tranſgrening this Command,
1. WHEN they deny their Children ſuitable Maintenance, according to their Part and Ability. We are told, 2 Cor. 12.14 For the children caught not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. When therefore they do withhold from them, that which is due, and within their Power, they certainly diſcourage them, which ought no to be; Col. 3.11. And we are told, 1 Tim. 3.8 If any provide not for his …ten, and ſpecially for thoſe of…i… own houſe, he hath denied the faith, and his worſe thin an infidel.
2. WHEN they withhold from them the Means of Sperit… God. Parents are mainly concerned for the Souls of their Children: When therefore they not only neglect their Inſtruction, but alſo reſtrain them from the Opportunitics and Advantages of Saving Knowledge; will not allow them Time to Read the Scriptures, to Attend upon the Means of Grace to Wait upon Caſechiſing, which is peculiarly deſigned for the acquainting of Young Ones with Saving Truths; they Tranſgreſs this Command, which requires, that they bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Eph. 6.4.
3. WHEN they bring them up with over…ſend Indulgence. There is a Government of Children, which belongs unto Parents by a Natural Right; and God requires it of them; and if we part with it, and ſuffer them to have their Wills in all things, and they muſt not have a Check or Reproof, they ſinfaily Omit their Duty. This was the thing Charged upon David in regard of A…n…j…b, 1 Kings 1.6. His father had not diſpleaſet him at any time, in ſaying, why haſt thou dere…?
4. WHEN on the other hand they tre…t them with Cau…lty, Pitter Carriages to Chaldren is unnatural; and muſt receive often great Diſ…n…gement to them, and provoke them to take unhardſ…me Courſes contrary to Col 2 21. Fathers: pro… not year Children …ger, i…t they be diſ…taged. Nay ſometimes that which will not conſiſt with Diſcovery of Parental Love, is here a Fault.
5. WHEN they … them to do things th… … S…n…ul. …0 5.… one way in which we may be Partakers in other Mens Sins, and C…a… the … of there to out ſelves: Not can Parents ſhew more want of Love to their Children than to be their Adviſers & Infir…c… ters in ſuch things as are Breaches of God's Holy Live, and thereby expreſing themſelves to God, Holy Anger: Herein Reſ… … was unkind to Jack, &c. and be ſmarted for it, Gen. 27.
6. WHEN they ſet them an Evil Example. Children are apt to Imitate their Parents, and in nothing more than in things that are Evil, to which their Corrupt Natures Incline When Parents will …wear, Curſe, keep Evil Company, lite Idly, be Drunk, and neglect Religions Orders in their Families; no thank to them, if their Children do not take after them, or do worſe. It is Recorded, 1 Kings 22.52. And he did evil in the ſight of the Lord, and …iked in the way of his futher, and in the way of his number; and in the way of Jerab…m the ſon of N…b…t, who made Iſrael to ſin. And, 2 F…ngs 6.27.2 Chron. 22.3, 4.
7. WHEN they with bold from them ſeaſonable Marriage: And that either by forbidding them, or with-holding due Encouragement from them. The Laws of all Civiliz'd Nations have provided a Remedy againſt this; and many Tragical things have been the Juſt Puniſhments of this Unnatural Carriage of Parents.
Secondly, CHILDREN render themſelves guilty of the Breach of this Commandment; when,
1. THEY Rebel againſt their Parents Lawful Commands. The Command for this, is abundantly urged in the Word of God; and the very Light of Nature diſcovers it: So that what their Parents do Lawfully Command them, they cannot without Sin refuſe Obedience unto. It was Impudence in the Son, who, when his Father bad him go to Lebear in his Vineyard, ſaid, I go not, i. e. I will not go: Marth. 21.18.
2. WHEN they Peſpiſe and carry themſelves Inſolently towards their Parents. This is contrary to the Honour which God hath required: Hence this is Cautioned againſt in Prov. 23.22. Hear …en unto thy father that begat thee, and Deſpiſe not thy nother when ſle is old. And ſeverely Threatned, Chap. 30.17. The eye that weeketh at his father, and deſpiſeth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley ſhall pick it out, and the v…urg eagles ſhall eat it. Parents have their Infirmities; and as they grow in Years they will Increaſe; and for Children to Scorn them for this, is Brutiſh.
3. WHEN they break from Family Government, and keep no Orders. They come and go when they will, keep what Company they pleaſe; and Abſent themſelves as they pleaſe, as all Hears of the Day or Night; and will … there …alned by all the fair Means that can … uſel with them, being Impatient of all Subjection. God hath appointed a ſevere law againſt ſuch as theſe; …eat. 21.13, 1…. & …ds.
4. WHEN they Rob … of, …r …r…g… Wafle that … …s. Parents e…ght to … rith their Children. But the…d ſ…l of this is in their hand, and Children have not the liberty to take and ſpend at there Pleaſure And it is not only a real Robbery, has alſo a deſpiſing of their Parents Ambority: Hence forbidden, Prov. 13.26. He that w…eth is father, and …l…ſ…th away …s …ther, …s …ſ… the cauſeth …, and …geth re…r….
5. WHEN they Neglect the Care of this Per …is, who are brought to Neceſſary: They …arden their Hearts againſt them; and will rather ſuffer them to Perith than afford them the neceſſary Succours, which their Condition calls for: This alſo diro…ls croſeth the Precept of God, 1 Tim. 5.16. If any … a woman that be…eth, here …d…s. … them, nel…eve them, and let not the …a…a… be charged; that is may recevie them that are …
Thirdly, HUSBANDS and Wines … break this Command.
And that,
I. IN regard of the Joyat Duties, that … in Commen between there.
1. WHEN they Live in Diſcord When they maintain Quartels one with another; and at all times Provoke each other: This is contrary to that Conjugal Love, which it the Bond of that State, which obligeth them carefully to pleaſe one another, 1 Cor… 33.34.
2. WHEN they withſtand each other in the Government of the Family. Theſe have a … Care of the Education of their Children, and maintanance of Authority over their Family; and when they Liſagree, and what the one doth, the other undoeth, or withſtands; what can this tend to, but the ſubverting of Facily Government; and thwarts the Duty of upholding each others Authority.
3. WHEN they are Falſe one to the other When they break the Marriage Bond, and defile the Marriage Bed, and thereby diſ…onour one another. This alſo comes under the Seventh Command: but we here obſerve it, as inconfident with that Conjugal Lo… which is required in this Command, againſt which God's Law was very ſevere.
II. IN reſpect to the Duties proper is Each of theſe. Here,
[1.] HUSBANDS are Char…e…able with Sin againſt this Command; 1. WHEN they every at …tly a…, and inſultingly over, their Waves. When inſtead of making them their Companions, they …re…t them as Slaves; and make their Condition fordid and very ureaſy; contrary to the Precept, Col. 3.1…. Hathands, love year waves, and be not b…r againſt them. And 1 …et. 3.7 2. WHEN inſtead of taking Care for this Comfortable Sup…t they … and …ſ…te …n R…otous loving. … …icle, 1 Tim. 5. …, and ſpecially for theſe of his …, he …eb … And …e … I … And of … Waſtes … which ſo … Coming, or any other Local Courſe, how ….
[2] THE Wiſe is here alſo Guilty. 1. WHEN ſhe uſurys Auto my over her ſhacked … When the …ſeth him in her Heart and inſulter ever him in her Ca…ge, and is never Content … of his Adminiſtrations: But is always being Fault and Contrading …un… Such a wiſe was Jeadal. 2. WHEN … makes a Slave of the, to … her Pride & … She cannot be … but inſtead of … she must be Soul in things with her Neighbour … ſhall have … living. 3. WHEN … to do her Part, for the preſerving … and Support …ſ… the …. She remarks not how things are Waſted; and … to be is God. to uſe Care and … in her place; and matters not what goes to Rea… the may have in Idleneſs. This is contrary to the Character of a Vert… … 11, &c.
Fourthly, THIS Command may be broken, …er by Maſters or Servant.
(1.) MASTERS may reader themſelves only in this,
1. WHEN they carry themſelves Cruelly is … Servants. It is a Command, … and ye maſters, do the ſame things … them, … rea…ring. And this Cruelly is ex…cied in Word. when they Treat them as …es, and give them all ſcornful Titles, as if thy were Creatures of another Species: threa… with all ſevere Menaces: And indeed, … by with …holding from them, their due Support of Life, allowing neither for Food or … that which is convenient: Partly by …ties L…r of them, beyond their Strength and Ability: Partly alſo, by barbarous uſing … with B…s. All Inhumanity in theſe …, is a…w…ful Uſurpation upon this Rela… contrary to. Col. 3.1. Ma…iers, give unto … is … and …
2. WHEN … will not af… them the … ſpiritual and ſaving God. … Inſtruct them at all, nor give …, Hear and Learn thoſe … may be Inſtructed in the …, keep them … advantages. This … Account they muſt … Day. of their Servants …
(2.) SERVANTS will have alſo be found ….
1. … and … Father refuſing to do … Service, and doing … the Comm… ….
2. WHEN … Maſter and …. And that either in … it …, it Running away, is by employing it … themſelves, to their Maſter is and damage by W…king deceitfully, … which is forbidden. … by … and Purl…ring, writing them in their … either by ſpending it upon their Luſts, or taking it to … of contrary to ….
Fifthly. THIS Command may be Tranſgreſſed, … the aged and Younger Perſons as ſuch
… Perſons are here Guilty, when they ſuch Evil Example before the Younger, in their Converſation. And this is, When in any thing they Live contrary to the Character, Tim. 2.2. That the aged … be ſ…ter, grove, temperate, ſound in faith, in charity, in patience. For old Perſons to be Intemperate, and given to Exceſs in Drink, (which is a thing too frequent it is a vile Reproach to them; to ſee them Covetous and Scraping, as if they were to Live here forever, or would carry ſomething away; to have them Swear. Curſe, take G…s Name in vain, is an ill Sight, and a miſerable Example: Well then might the Wiſe Man uſe that limitation, Prov. 12.21. The wary lead it …, if it be found in the way of righteouſneſs.
2. YOUNGER Perſons break this Command, by a C…mtempt… at Carriage toward theſe that are aged. When they Deſpiſe them for their age, which doth it ſelf call for a Reſpect: or carry it Inſolently towards them for the Inſ…ties, whether Natural or Moral,) which they labour of; when they deſpiſe that Precept, Levit 12.32. Thou ſhalt riſe up before the hary head, and …on…ur the fa… of the old man, and fear thy God I am two Lord. When they think themſelves Wiſer than the Ancients, and ſo ſcorn their Advice; laugh at them for their Prety, and ſhew Contempt to them for their grave Inſtructions; and with Rib. brew, for ſake the Counſel of the O…d Men, and we ſo far from …ing their G…od Example, that they make a Ma…k, or Soft at it.
Sixthly. THIS may be Conſidered reſpecting Magi…rater and S…ds.
(1.) THE Civil Magiſtrate may here be Gui;ty;
1. BY Enacting of Evil Laws. We read, Pſal. … Shall the throne of iniquity have … which frameth miſchief have …. And theſe may be Evil, which either R… a Falſe Worſhip, or tend to the Sur…re… of that which is hight: As alſo whatſoever the Umuſt. and contrary to the Civil Happineſs of a People, or Sul…cerſive of theſe Liberties and Immunities, which by the Law of Nature b…l…ng unto them.
2. BY Tyran… over … Sa…jeus. Which is exerciſed. When Men in Power, without Law. invade the Liberties and Properties of the Subject; and thereby Oppreſs them: When they Uſurp an Arbitrary Government, and make their own Will their Law, in whatſoever may gratify their Ambition or Covetouſneſs. This is expreſt in that Warning given to Iſrael, 1 Sam. 8 11, &c
3. BY wreſting of Judgment. This belongs to the Executive Power: When the Laws are either Superſeded; or by perverſe Gloſſes and Miſinter pretations improved to wrong the Innocent, and favour the Nocent; when Good Men ſhall be injured, and Ill Men favoured: Hence that, Lam. 3 36. To ſubvert a man in his cauſe, the Lord approveth not.
(2.) SUBJECTS do notoriouſly Sin againſt this Command;
1. BY a Contemptuous Carriage towards their Perſons & Government. When their Authority is deſpiſed, and their Laws diſregarded; and Men without regard, break their Good and Juſt Laws: What is this but to reproach the Government, contrary to that Subjection, Rom. 13.1.
2. BY murmuring againſt, or ſpeaking Evil of Rulers, even the Beſt: Yea, often the Beſt are moſt uneaſy to a People, and they cannot bear them; and nothing can pleaſe them, but theſe muſt be Reviled as if they were the Plagues of the Place. This is a thing which is reproved, Jude ver. 8. And ſpeak evil of dignities.
3. By Inſurrection & Rebellion. In what Caſe a People Oppreſſed by their Rulers may with-ſtand the Oppreſſion, is not a thing I now Diſpute: But for them upon every Diſguſt, Tumultuouſly to Riſe, and throw all into Confuſion, is a thing no way warrantable; but provoking to God.
4. BY fraudulent with-holding of their Juſt Tribute, for the Upholding of Government: In what Caſes the Subject may hide from Knowledge, what the Law exacts, I will not here Enquire, it being a nice Caſe; but God hath made it a Duty, Rom. 13.7. Custom to whom cuſtom is due. And Fraud here is a Sin.
Seventhly, MINISTERS alſo, and Church-Members, are here Concerned.
(1.) MINISTERS may notoriouſly break this Command;
1. BY Preaching & Instilling of Falſe Doctrines. Hereby they do what in them lies, to deſtroy the Souls that are under their Charge, whoſe Duty is expreſt, Jer. 3.15. And I will give you paſtours after mine heart, which ſhall ſeed you with knowledge & underſtanding. Such Preachers are therefore called the Miniſters of Satan, 2 Cor. 11.15.
2. BY an Evil Converſation. They are to be Enſamples to their Flock, and Preach by their Lives, as well as by their Doctrines: When therefore they lead ungirt Lives, and contradict their Preaching by their Pradice; they do not they that Love of Souls, which they ought to do. Paul could ſay, 1 Cor. 11 1. bey…l …ce…s of we, … of Chriſt.
3. BY their taking other imployment, which under them from d…ſe arging their Duty. Their Duty is to be in there things, to make their Miniſtry their Calling; if therefore they loſe themſelves in other Buſineſs, which … voidably takes them off from this; it is their Sin, 2 Tim. 2.4.
4. BY Uſurping a Power ever their Fuck, which Chriſt hath not ve…ed them …thal. There is a Power which they ought to aſſert; but a Domination is not granted them; and if they aſſume it, they become Guilty, 1 Pet. 5.3. Neither as being Lords ever God's heritage, but being enſamples to the ſick.
(2.) CHURCH-Members may break this Command;
1. BY aſſuming to themſelves an Authority which belongs not to them. When they Challenge a Liberty to themſelves, which is Subverſive of the Authority of the Elderſhip; and do not Submit to the Regular Government of their Elders, contrary to, Heb. 13.17. Obey their that have the ru… over you, and ſ…s your ſelves; for they vetch for your ſouls as they that muſt give account: that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
2. BY diſorderly Rejecting the Relation which they hear to their own Elders: As if they were entirely at their own Liberty, to rend themſelves away, without any regard had to there whom the Holy Ghoſt hath made their Overſeers; which tends to the Ruin of Church-Order.
3. By with-holding from them their Conſ… ble & Honourable Subſiſtence. When they thus Oppreſs them and their Families; and drive them from their proper work, to ſeek their own Support, without which they muſt ſuffer Hunger and Want; contrary to, 1 Cor. 5.14 Even ſo hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the goſpel, ſhould live of the goſpel.
4. BY maintaining continual Brawls & Contentions with their Miniſters. Always finding Fault with their Adminiſtrations, and ſeeking to undermine them; which is to Liſcourage them in their Work; and Contradictory to that Honour which they ought to pay them,
Eighthly, THERE is a Breach in this Command, between thoſe that are Well-Deſcended, and ſuch as are of a Lower Degree.
1. WHEN the former …rr… it unworthy of their Progenitors, and that Honourable Birth they are Owners of: When they are a Diſgrace rather than a Credit, to their Birth and Education.
2. WHEN the latter Deſpiſe, arde…ſt Contempt on the other: This proceeds from a Levelling Spirit; a diſowning the Diſterence, which God's Providence hath made.
Ninethly, BOTH Rich and Poor may be here Guilty.
1. THE Rich: When either they Deſpiſe the Poor for their Poverty, wherein they caſt Reproach upon their Maker: or when they reſt ſo to R…lie…e the Poor, out of the Liberal P…am, … God … their …s, … that which … His …, and He hath required.
2. THE P…r: When they either …y the P…ſperity of thei Neighbours, which … the Love they ſhould …lear to them, …re …gru… for all the Kindneſſes they receive from there.
Tenthly. THERE is a Fault here, l…th in theſe that Exced in G…ſ…, and ſuch as are In… in them.
1. WHEN the former with h…d, and will re…prive from for the God of the ether; contary to: Cor. 12.7. The maniſen…n of t… …rt is given to every man to … for withal.
2. WHEN the latter S…rn to be Inſtructed by …e…r, but I ſpiſe there: And particularly, then ſuch are not regarded in H…ction to Places os Service, but laid aſide; and …thers that are many ſit, are preſured before them.
Eleventhly, THIS Command is Tranſgreſſed by Ean…ls.
1. WHEN Neighbours Live together …neighbourly. When they maintain Eſtrangedneſs among themſelves, Live in Quarrels and State, deny one another Neighbourly Kindneſſes, ſeek to Undermine one another in their … and inſtead of d…ing God, …lart to ….
2. SP…AL Friend … Ga…y … when … Lord … the … and … J…r. More po…tly. When the P…ſ…rt … a Time … … w…h … of all …ster their harding … when to … expoſe thin… to … and M…. When they do … faithfuly and …lly Ad…ſe one another; but … the …er l…n give Advance or Encouragement to that which is Sinful, and will expoſe them to …eds Anger, and Suffering in the World: When inſtead of Carvin … and expoſe each other, by entertaining …an… againſt them, or publiſhing their In…nitter to others.
THESE, and whatſoever elſe of like Nature, … Iranſgr…h us of the Fifty Command: …y which we are tought what need Chriſtians Have to be very Wery to themſelves, l…ſt in the Relation or other, they Violate the Command, and procure God's Diſpleaſure.
[MAY 3… 1704]