rectionsr; fidelity tos, defencet, and maintenance of their perfons and authority, according to their several ranks and powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be, are ordained of God. v. 2. Whosoever therefore refisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation. v. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the fame: v. 4. For he is the minifter of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the fword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. v. 5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for confcience fake. Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourselves: for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Prov. iv. 3. For I was my father's fon, tender and only beloved in the fight of my mother. v. 4. He taught me also, and faid unto me, Let thy heart retain my words, keep my commandments and live. Prov. xxiii. 22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Exod. xviii. 19. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counfel, and God shall be with thee. v. 24. So Mofes hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had faid. Heb. xii. 9. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, who corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather the be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? I Pet. ii. 18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. v. 19. For this is thank-worthy, if a man for confcience toward God endure grief, fuffering wrongfully. v. 20. For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye fhall take it patiently? but if when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptable with God. Tit. ii. 9. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again. v. 10. Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 1 Sam. xxvi. 15. And David faid to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to deftroy the king thy lord. v. 16. This thing is not good that thou haft done: as the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master the Lord's anointed. 2 Sam. xviii. 3. But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou fuccour us out of the city. Efth. vi. 2. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who fought to lay hand on the king Ahafuerus. Mat. the nature of their placesv; bearing with their infirmities, I and covering them in lovew, that so they may be an honour to them and to their government x. Q. 128. What are the sins of inferiors against their fuperiors? A. The fins of inferiors against their fuperiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward themy; envying at z, contempt of a, and rebellionb, against their perfonsc, and places d, in their lawful counselse, commands, and corrections f; curfing, mockingg, and all such refractory and scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonour to them and their government h. v Mat. xxii. 21. They say unto him Cefar's. Then faid he unto them, Render unto Cefar the things which are Cefar's: and unto God the things that are God's. Rom. xiii. 6. For, for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God's minifters attending continually upon this very thing. v. 7. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. I Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. v. 18. For the scripture faith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Gal. vi. 6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Gen. xlv. 11. And there will I nourish thee (for yet there are five years of famine) lest thou, and thy houshold, and all that thou hast come to poverty. Gen. xlvii. 12. And Joseph nourished his father and his brethren, and all his fathers houshold with bread, according to their families. w 1 Pet. ii. 18. Servants, be fubject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. Prov. xxiii. 22. Hearken unto thy father that Segat thee, and despise not thy mo tempt ther when she is old. 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. * Pfal. cxxvii. 3. Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. v. 4. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man: fo are children of the youth. v. 5. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. Prov.xxxi.23. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 128. y Mat. xv. 4. For God commanded, faying, Honour thy father and mother, and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. v.5. But ye fay, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, it is a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me. v. 6. And honour not his father or his mother he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. z Num. xi. 28. And Joshua the fon of Nun, the fervant of Mofes, one of his young men, answered and said, my lord Mofes, forbid them. v.29. And Mofes faid unto him, Enviest thou for my fake? Would God hat Q. 129. What is required of fuperiors towards their inferiors? A. It is required of fuperiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to lovei, pray fork, and bless their inferiors/; to instruct, or the voice of his mother, and that when they have chastned him, will not hearken unto them: v. 19. then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of the city, and unto the gate of his place: v. 20. and they shall fay unto the elders of his city, This our fon is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice, he is a glutton and a drunkard. v. 21. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you, and all Israel shall hear, and fear. that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them. a I Sam. viii. 7. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people, in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Ifa. iii. 5. And the people shall be oppreffed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. b2 Sam. xv. from v. 1. to 12. And it came to pass after this, that Abfalom prepared him chariots and horses, &c. c Exod. xxi. 15. And he that smit. eth his father or his mother, shall furely be put to death. d 1 Sam. x. 27. But the children of Belial faid, How shall this man fave us? and they despised him, and brought him no presents; but he held his peace. 1 Sam.ii. 25.-Notwithstanding they (viz. the fons of Eli) hearkned not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would flay them. f Deut. xxi. 18. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious fon, who will not obey the voice of his father *g Prov. xxx. 11. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. v. 17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. b Prov. xix. 26. He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a fon that causeth fhame, and bringeth reproach. 129. i Col. iii. 19. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Tit. ii. 4. That they may teach the young women to be fober, to love their husbands, to love their children. * 1 Sam. xii. 23. Moreover, as for me, ftructm, counsel and admonish them; countenancingo, com mendings, and rewarding such as do wellq; and discountenancingr, reproving, and chastising such as do ills; pro 1 tectingt, and providing for them all things necessary for foul me, God forbid that I should fin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way. Job. i. 5. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job fent and fanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings, according to the number of them all: for Job faid, It may be that my fons have finned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. 1 1 Kings viii. 55. And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Ifrael, with a loud voice, saying, v. 56. Blefsed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Ifrael, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed-Heb. vii. 7. And without all contradiction, the less is blessed of the better. Gen. xlix. 28. All these are the twelve tribes of Ifrael: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. m Deut. vi. 6. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. v. 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou lieft down, and when thòu risest up. ■ Eph. vi. 4. And ye fathers proEvoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. • 1 Pet. iii. 7. Likewise ye hufbands dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. p1 Pet. ii. 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. Rom. xiii. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the fame, 9 Efth. vi. 3. And the king faid, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then faid the kings servants that ministred unto him, There is nothing done for him. r Rom. xiii. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the fame: v. 4. for he is the minifter of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. Prov. xxix. 15. The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself, bringeth his mother to shame. 1 Pet, ii, 14. (See above in p) t Job. xxix. 12. Because I deliver-ed the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. v. 13. The bleffing of him that was ready to perish, came upon T foul v and bodyw: and, by grave, wife, holy and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God x, honour to themselvesy, and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them z. Q. 130. What are the fins of fuperiors? A. The fins of fuperiors are, beside the neglect of the du ties required of thema, an inordinate seeking of themselves b, their me: and I caused the widows heart to fing for joy. v. 14. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my judgment was a robe and a diadem. v. 15. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. v. 16. I was a father to the poor; and the cause which I knew not, I searched out. v. 17. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and pluckt the spoil out of his teeth. Ifa. i. 10. Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. v. 17. Learn to do well, feek judgment, relieve the oppreffed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. v Eph. vi. 4. And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. w 1 Tim. v. 8. But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. * 1 Tim. iv. 12. Let no man defpise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Tit. ii. 3. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accufers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. v. 4. That they may teach the young women to be fober, to love their hus bands, to love their children. v.5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blafphemed. , 1 Kings iii. 28. And all Ifrael heard of the judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king: for they saw that the wifdom of God was in him, to do judgment. z Tit. ii. 15. These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. 130. a Ezek. xxxiv. 2. Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Ifrael, prophesy, and fay unto them, Thus faith the Lord God unto the shepherds, Wo be to the shepherds of Ifrael that do feed themselves: should not the shepherds feed the flocks? v. 3. Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. v. 4. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was fick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye fought that which was loft; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. Phil. ii. 21. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jefus Christ's. Joha |