Q. 17. Who are they that have the first and natural right to honour and respect? A. NATURAL PARENTS; fathers and mothers. 12. 4. and that of Isaac to Jacob, chap. xxiii. 1, 2; but if children should dispose of themselves without the knowledge and consent of their parents, they act contrare-ry to the honour, deference, and gratitude they owe to them as Esau did, Gen. xxvi. 34, 35. Q. 18. Is equal honour and gard due from children to their mother as to their father? Q. 22. What are the duties of magistrates towards their sub A. Yes, surely: and therefore to prevent any difference, in respect of esteem, reverence, and jects? obedience, she is named before A. To establish good laws, the father, in Lev. xix. 3. "Ye 2 Kings xviii. 4. and see them imshall fear every man his mother partially executed, Rom. xiii. 3, and his father." Q. 19. What are the duties of parents to their children? A. To train them up for God Prov. xxii. 6. in the knowledge and profession of the true religion, Deut. vi. 7; to teach them by example as well as by precept, Psal. ci. 2, 3; to be careful in applying suitable and seasonable correction to their faults, Prov. xiii. 24. and xix. 18. and xxiii. 13, 14; to provide for them according to their ability, 2 Cor. xii. 14; and to be earnest in prayer to God for a blessing upon them, Gen. xlviii. 15, 16. Q. 20. What are the duties of children to their parents? 4; to protect their subjects in their religion, lives, and liberties, 1 Pet. ii. 14; and to be nursing fathers to the church, Isa. xlix. 23. Q. 23. What is the duty of the magistrate with reference to the church of Christ? A. Although he "may not assume to himself the administration of the word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; yet he hath authority, and it is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be preserved in the church; that the truth of God be kept pure and entire; that all blasphemies and heresies be supA. To love them dearly, Gen. pressed; all corruptions and xlvi. 29; to esteem and think high-abuses in worship and discipline ly of them in their minds, Lev. xix. 3. Mal. i. 6; to hearken to their counsels, Prov. iv. 1. and obey their lawful commands, Eph. vi. 1; to submit patiently to their corrections, Heb. xii. 9; and to succour and relieve them in case of poverty and want, Gen. xlvii. 12. especially in old age, Ruth iv. 15. Q. 21. May children dispose of themselves in marriage without the knowledge or consent of their parents? A. No: as appears from the charge given by Abraham, concerning his son Isaac, Gen. xxiv. prevented and reformed; and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed."* Q. 24. What are the duties of subjects towards their magistrates? A. To honour and reverence them, 2 Sam. ix. 6; to obey their just laws, Eccl. viii. 2; to pay them the tribute that is due to them, Rom. xiii. 7; to pray for them, 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2; and to support and defend their persons and authority, 1 Sam. xxvi. 15, 16. Esth. vi. 2. Q. 25. Are subjects bound to * Conf. chap. xxiii. sect. 3. with scriptures quoted. be obsequious to the lawful com- | mands of magistrates, who are of a different religion from them? A. "Infidelity, or difference in religion doth not make void the magistrates' just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to him."* Q. 26. What are the duties of ministers to their people? A. Diligently to study, 1 Tim. iv. 15; and faithfully to preach the gospel, 2 Tim. iv. 2; not shunning to declare unto them all the counsel of God, Acts xx. 27; to evidence their own belief of their doctrine, by a holy and exemplary walk, 1 Tim. iv. 12; to watch for their souls as they that must give an account, Heb. xiii. 17; and to pray much for them, Rom. i. 9. All which duties require their ordinary residence among them, 1 Pet. v. 2. Q. 27. What are the duties of people to their ministers? A. To esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, 1 Thess. v. 13; to strive together in their prayers to God for them, Rom. xv. 30, that they may be enabled to give them their portion of meat in due season, Luke xii. 42; to attend diligently upon the ordinances dispensed by them, Heb. x. 25, to defend their character and doctrine against unjust calumnies and reproaches, 1 Tim. v. 19; and to make a competent and comfortable provision for them, Gal. vi. 6. Q. 28. What are the duties mutually incumbent upon husband and wife? A. The most tender and affectionate love, on both sides, Eph. v. 28. 33; the strictest fidelity to the marriage-bed and covenant, Matt. v. 28; and the promoting the temporal and spiritual welfare of each other, 1 Tim. v. 8. 1 Pet. iii. 7. Q 29. What are the duties of masters to their servants? A. To be meek and gentle towards them, forbearing threatening, Eph. vi. 9; to instruct them in the principles of religion, Gen. xviii. 19; to see to their external observation of the Sabbath, Exod. xx. 10; and to pay them punctually their wages, Deut. xxiv. 15. Q. 30. What are the duties of servants to their masters? A. To be diligent and faithful in their master's work, "not with eye-service as men-pleasers, butwith good-will, doing service as to the Lord, and not to men," Eph. v. 6, 7; to obey in all things their masters according to the flesh, Col. iii. 22; and to please them well in all things, not answering again, Tit. ii. 9. Q. 31. Are masters and servants on earth, subject to one common Lord and Master in heaven? A. Yes; and therefore they ought to behave towards one another, as in his sight; for there is no respect of persons with him, Eph. vi. 9. Q. 32. What are the duties of those who have a larger measure of gifts and graces conferred upon them, towards such as haye a lesser share of the same? A. To be exemplary in humility and self-denial, Gen. xxxii. 10. as having nothing but what they have received, 1 Cor. iv. 7; to be communicative of what the Lord has freely given them, Mat. x. 8; and improve their talents for the benefit of themselves and others, chap. xxv. 16. Q. 33. What are the duties of such as are weaker in gifts and graces, towards those that are stronger? A. To be followers of them in so far as they are of Christ, 1 Cor. xi. 1; to be willing to learn from *Conf. chap. xxiii. sect. 4. with the scriptures quoted to prove this article. their experiences, Heb. vi. 12; | love and good works, Heb. x. 24; and to covet earnestly the best gifts, to be kindly affectioned one to .1 Cor. xii. 31. another, in honour preferring one another, Rom. xii. 10. Q. 34. What is the duty of the younger towards the aged? Q. 36. What is the fruit and consequence of the conscientious performance of these relative du A. To honour and respect them, especially if the hoary head be found in the way of righteous-ties? ness, Prov. xvi. 31. "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man," Lev. xix. 32. Q. 35. What are the duties of equals to one another? A. To provoke each other unto A. Hereby outward peace and concord will be better maintained between man and man, 1 Pet. iii. 10, 11; and likewise the members of Christ's body will be knit more closely to one another in love, 1 John iv. 7. QUEST. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? ANSW. 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. Q.1. What is it to neglect the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations? Q. 4." What are the sins of superiors?" A. "-Commanding things unlawful, or not in the power of inA. It is not only to omit the feriors to perform; counselling, performance of such relative du- encouraging, or favouring them ties altogether, but even when in that which is evil;" and "disthey are performed, to do them suading, discouraging, or diswithout any regard to the com- countenancing them in that which mand and authority of God enjoin- is good-"t ing them, Isa. xxix. 13. Q. 5. equals?" Q. 2. What is it to do any thing against the honour and duty which belongeth to every one? A. It is to commit these sins which are the very opposite of the relative duties incumbent on us, Rom. ii. 22. "What are the sins of A. "Envying the gifts, griev ing at the advancement or prosperity one of another, and usurping the pre-eminence one over another." rents? Q. 6. What punishment did the Q. 3. "What are the sins of in-law of Moses inflict upon children, feriors against their superiors?" for smiting or cursing their paA. "Envying at, contempt of, and rebellion against their per- A. DEATH, Exod. xxi. 15. "He sons and places, in their lawful that smiteth his father, or his mocounsels, commands, and correc-ther, shall surely be put to DEATH.” tions."* And verse 17. "He that curseth *Larger Cat. Quest. 128, with the scriptures quoted. + Larger Cat. Quest. 130. Ibid. Quest. 132. his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to DEATH." Q. 7. Why was such a severe punishment inflicted for these crimes? A. Because either beating or cursing of parents are sins directly opposite to the light and law of nature, pregnant evidences, not only of the worst kind of ingratitude, but of incurable disobedi ence; and therefore the equity of this punishment seems to be approved by our Lord under the New Testament, Matt. xv. 4. QUEST. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment? ANSW. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, is, a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory, and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment. Q. 1.Whether doth the [promise] | thy father and thy mother-that annexed to this commandment re- it may be well with thee, and that spect temporal or spiritual good? thou mayest live long on the A. It respects temporal good, earth." to show that godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come, 1 Tim. iv. 8. Q. 2. What is the temporal good here promised? A. It is [long life]; in these words, That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Q. 3. Is it long life merely that is promised, without any thing else? Q. 5. What is the difference between the promise of long life in this commandment, and the promise of mercy in the second? A. The promise of showing mercy, in the second commandment, extends to all such as love God, and keep his commandments in general: but the promise of long life here, extends only to the keepers of this commandment in particular. Q. 6. Hath this promise always a literal accomplishment; or, do A. No; it is long life [and pros-godly and obedient children alperity], or the blessings and com- ways live long on earth? forts of life; without which, long life would be a grievous burden, Rev. iv. 6. Q. 4. Hath not this promise a particular reference to obedient children among the Jews, their living long in the land of Judea, which God gave unto them? A. If any of them are removed by death, in their younger years, it is either to take them away from the evil to come, Isa. lvii. 1; or to transplant them, so much sooner, to a better country, that is, an heavenly, Heb. xi. 16. Q. 7. What are the things which tend to make a long life a happy and comfortable one? A. Any reference it had to them, is not exclusive of a reference or relation to children that shall ho- A. They are these three, among nour their parents, in any other others: growth in grace and holipart of the earth, to the end of ness, in proportion to our advancthe world; for so the apostle ex-ing in years, Psal. xcii. 13. 15; plains it, Eph. vi. 2, 3." Honour retaining the entire exercise of Q. 11. What is this comfortable limitation? A. Long life, with prosperity, is promised [as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own reason, and some vigour of body, A. Because it is the first commandment of the second table, and the only commandment in it, that hath an express promise annexed unto it. Q. 9. Why is there a special and express promise annexed to this commandment, when it is so strongly enforced by the light of nature? A. To show the great regard that God has to the lawful authority of parents, Deut. xxi. 18-22; and to engage children to behave dutifully and obsequiously towards them, Prov. iv. 10. Q. 10. Whether is the promise of long life, in this commandment, absolute or limited? A. It is limited, and that in the most comfortable manner. Q. 12. Could any wish for long life and prosperity upon other terms? A. No child of God will desire any temporal blessing, but as it is for God's glory and their good, Prov. xxx. 8. Q. 13. What advantage have the godly, with respect to temporal blessings, above the wicked? A. They are warranted by promise, which the wicked are not, to expect as many temporal good things, as are needful and necessary for them, Psal. xxxiv. 10. Isa. xxxiii. 16; and God's blessing upon what they enjoy, however small their portion of temporal comforts may be, Psal. xxxvii. 16. "A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked." QUEST. 67. Which is the sixth commandment? ANS. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill. QUEST. 68. What is required in the sixth commandment? ANS. The sixth commandment requireth, all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life, and the life of others. Q. 1. What doth this command-ment require with reference to ment chiefly respect? man's life? A. The [LIFE] of man, which is the nearest and most valuable of all his temporal concerns, Job ii. 4. "Skin for skin; yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life." Q. 2. What makes the life of man valuable? A. [All lawful endeavours to preserve] it, in ourselves and others. Q. 4. What lawful endeavours should we use for the preservation of [our own] life? A. The "just defence thereof against violence;-a sober use A. His being made in the image of meat, drink, physic, sleep, labour, and recreation."* of God," Gen. ix. 6. Q. 3. What doth this command Q. 5. By what means should we |