yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; (1) that it cometh but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it; (2) and that Satan with his instruments, much labour to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, and to bring in all irreligion and impiety. (3)

Q. 122. What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man?

A. The sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man, is, to love our neighbour as ourselves, (4) and to do to others what we would have them to do to us. (5)

Q. 123. Which is the fifth commandment?

holy Sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant.

(1) Ex. xxxiv. 21. Six days thou shalt work; but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing-time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

(2) Ex. xx. 9. Six days shalt thou labour. Amos viii. 5.-When will the new moon be gone,-and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat? &c.

(3) Lam. i. 7. Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction, and of her miseries, all the pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her Sabbaths. Neh. xiii. from verse 15 to 23. In those days saw I in Judah, some treading wine-presses on the Sabbath. Jer. xvii. 21,

22, 23.

(4) Matt. xxii. 39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

(5) Matt. vii. 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (1)

Q. 124. Who are meant by father and mother, in the fifth commandment?

A. By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant not only, natural parents, (2) but all superiors in age (3) and gifts; (4) and especially such as by God's ordinance are over us in place of authority, whether in family, (5) church, (6) or commonwealth. (7)

(1) Ex. xx. 12.

(2) Prov. xxiii. 22, 25. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. -Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. Eph. vi. 1, 2.

(3) 1 Tim. v. 1, 2. Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters.

(4) Gen. iv. 20, 21. And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Gen. xlv. 8.-And he hath made me a father to Pharaoh.

(5) 2 Kings v. 13. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it?

(6) Gal. iv. 19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you. 2 Kings ii. 12. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof! 2 Kings xiii. 14.

(7) Isa. xlix. 23. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers.

Q. 125. Why are superiors styled father and mother?

A. Superiors are styled father and mother, both to teach them in all duties towards their inferiors, like natural parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their several relations; (1) and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents. (2)

Q. 126. What is the general scope of the fifth commandment?

A. The general scope of the fifth commandment, is the performance of those duties which we mutually owe in our several relations, as inferiors, superiors, or equals. (3)

(1) Eph. vi. 4. And ye, fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 1 Thess. ii. 7, 8, 11. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. As ye know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children. Num. xi. 11, 12, 16.

(2) 1 Cor. iv. 14, 15, 16. I write not these things to shame you, but, as my beloved sons, I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

(3) Eph. v. 21. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 1 Pet. ii. 17. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Rom. xii. 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

Q. 127. What is the honour that inferiors owe to superiors?

A. The honour which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart, (1) word, (2) and behaviour; (3) prayer and thanksgiving for them; (4) imitation of their virtues and graces; (5) willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels; (6) due submission to their corrections; (7) fidelity

(1) Mal. i. 6. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is my honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? Lev. xix. 3. Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father.

(2) Prov. xxxi. 28. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 1 Pet. iii. 6. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord :

(3) Lev. xix. 32. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man. 1-Kings ii. 19. And she sat on his right hand.

(4) 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority.

(5) Heb. xiii. 7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Phil. iii. 17. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an ensample.

(6) Eph. vi. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7. Children, obey your parents in the Lord :-Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters, according to the flesh, &c. 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto governors, &c. Rom. xiii. from 1 to 6. Heb. xiii. 17. Prov. iv. 3, 4; and xxiii. 22.

(7) Heb. xii. 9. Furthermore, we have had fathers

to, (1) defence (2) and maintenance of their persons and authority, according to their several ranks, and the nature of their places; (3) bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love, (4) that so they may be an honour to them and to their government. (5)

of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence. 1 Pet. ii. 18, 19, 20. Servants, be subject to your masters, with all fear; but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

(1) Tit. ii. 9, 10. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

(2) 1 Sam. xxvi. 15, 16.-Wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king?-As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. 2 Sam. xviii. 3. Esth. vi. 2.

(3) Matt. xxii. 21. Render therefore unto Cæsar, the things which are Cæsar's. Rom. xiii. 6, 7.-For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 1 Tim. v. 17, 18. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.-Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, the labourer is worthy of his reward. Gal. vi. 6. Gen. xlv. 11, and xlvii. 12.

(4) Gen. ix. 23. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father: and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. 1 Pet. ii. 18. Prov. xxiii. 22.

(5) Ps. cxxvii. 3, 4, 5. Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full