A. Such as are subject to others, or below them in ftation or gifts.

Q. 7. Whom do you underland by [equals]?

A. Such as are of like age and condition in the world. Q. 8. What is the general duty required in this commandment?

A. It is HONOUR; Honour thy father and thy mother. Q9. What is meant by the honour here required? A. All inward regard and efteem, manifefted by outward tokens of respect, Rom, xii. 10. reverence, chap. xiii. 7. and obedience, Heb. xiii, 17.

2 c. What is the rule and measure of that obedience and fubmiffion, which is due from inferiors to their fupe

riors?

A. The law of God; for, when any thing is enjoined contrary thereunto, the fixed rule is, To obey God rather than men, Acts iv. 19. and v. 29.

Q. 11. What is it that procures honour from one perfon to another?

A. It is fomething of eminence, excellency, or worth that is difcernible in them, A&ts x. 25.

2 12. Are there not different degrees of external honour due to fome beyond others?

A. Yes: according to the different offices and Stations wherein God places them in the world, 1 Tim. v. 1, 2. 213. What is that degree of honour which the meaneft and lowest part of mankind are entitled unto from the greatest and higheft?

A. It is to be efteemed and regarded by them, in proportion as they are neceffary and ufeful, Eph. vi. 9.

Q. 14. Why are we commanded to honour all men, 1 Pet. ii. 17?

A Because there are few or none, in whom we may not observe some gift or other, in which they are fuperior to us, if we were to judge ourselves humbly and impartially, Phil. ii. 3.

Q. 15. Are men to be honoured according to their riches?

A. No; but according as they employ their riches, in fome measure, for the good of others, either in the church or common-wealth 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18.

9. 16. What are the feveral relations, wherein duties are mutually to be performed, according to this command.

ment?

A. They are fuch as fubfift between parents and children: magiftrates and subjects: minifters and people; hufbands and wives: mafters and fervants; and likewife between those who have a greater or lefler degree of gifts and graces.

2. 17 Who are they that have the firfl and natural right to honour and refpect?

A. NATURAL PARENTS; fathers and mothers.

218. Is equal honour and regard due from children to their mother as to their father?

:

A. Yes furely and therefore to prevent any difference, in refpect of esteem, reverence, and obedience, fhe is named before the father, in Lev. xix. 3. Ye shall fear every man bis mother 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 profeffion of the true religion, Deut. vi. 7.; to teach them by example, as well as by precept, Pfalm. ci. 2. 3. to be careful in applying fuitable and feasonable correction to their faults, Prov. xiii. 24. and xix. 18. and xxiii. 13. 14; to provide for them according to ability, 2 Cor. xi. 14.; and to be earnest in prayer to God for a bleffing upon them, Gen. xlviii. 15, 19.

Q. 20. What are the duties of children to their parents? A. To love them dearly, Gen. xlvi. 29. to efteem and think highly of them in their minds Lev. xix. 3. Mal. i. 6.; to hearken to their counfels, Prov. iv. 1. and obey their lawful commands, Eph. vi. 1.; to submit patiently to their corrections, Heb. xii. 9.; and to fuccour and relieve them in cafe of poverty and want, Gen. xlvii. 12. efpecially in old age, Ruth. iv. 15.

Q 21. May children difpefe of themselves in marriage without the knowledge or content of their parents?

A. No; as appears from the charge given by Abraham, concerning his fon Ifaac, Gen. xxiv. 2. 4. and that of Ifaac to Jacob, chap. xxviii. 1, 2 ; but if children should dispose of themselves without the knowledge and confent of their parents, they act contrary to the honour, deference, and gratitude they owe to them, as Efau did, Gen. xxvi 34, 35. Q. 22. What are the duties of magiflrates towards their fubjects?

A. To establish good laws, 2 Kings xviii 4. and fee them impartially executed, Rom. xiii. 3, 4.; to protect their fub

jects in their religion, lives, and liberties, 1 Pet. 146; and to be nurfing fathers, to the church, Ifa. xlix. 23.

23. What is the duty of the magiftrate with reference to the church of Chrift?

4. Although he may not affume to himself the ad"miniftration of word and facraments, 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 preferved in the church; that the truth of God be "kept pure and entire; that all blafphemies and herefies be fupprefled; all corruptions and abufes in worship and "difcipline prevented and reformed: and all the ordinances of God duly fettled, administered, and obferved *:"

224 What are the duties of fubjects towards their magiftrates?

4. To honour and reverence them, 2 Sam. ix 6; to obey their juft laws, Eccl. viii. 2.; to pay them the tribute that is due to them, Rom.xii 7.; to pray for them, i Tim, it. 1, 2.; and to fupport and defend their perfons and authority, 1 Sam. xxvi. 15, 16. Efth: vi. 2.

2 25. Are fubjects bound to be cbfequious to the lawful commands of magistrates, who are of a different religion from them?

Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magiftrate's juft and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to him +"

2. 26. What are the duties of minifters to their people? A. Ddigently to study, 1 Tim iv. 19.; and faithfully to preach the gofpel, 2 Tim. iv. 15.; not fhunning to declare unto them all the counsel of God, Acts xx. 27; to evidence their own belief of their doctrine, by a holy and exampla. ~ry walk, 2 Tim. iv. 1'2; to watch for their fouls as they that muft give an account, Heb.xiii. 17.; and to pray much for them, Rom. i. 9. All which duties require their ordihary refidence among them, i Pet. v. 2.

Q. 27. What are the duties of people to their ministers? To efteem them very highly in love for their work's fake, 1 Theff. v. 13.; to ftrive together in their prayers to God for them, Rom. xv. 3c.; that they may be enabled to

Conf. chap xxiii, fect 3. with the fcriptures there quoted,

+ Ibid. chap. xxiii. felt. 4 with the feriptures quoted to prove this article. PART 11:

P

give them their portion of meat in due feafon, Luke xii. 42.; to attend diligently upon the ordinances difpenfed by them, Heb. x. 25.; to defend their character and doctrine againft unjust calumnies and reproaches, Tim. v. 19.; and to make a competent and comfortable provifion for them, Gal vi 6.

2. 28. What are the duties mutually incumbent upon hufband and wife?

A. The most tender and affectionate love, on both fides, Eph. v. 28, 33; the ftricteft fidelity to the marriage bed and covenant, Mat. v. 28.; and the promoting the temporal and spiritual welfare of each other, 1 Tim.v.8. 1 Pet. iii. 7. 2.29 What are the duties of masters to their fervants? A. To be meek and gentle towards them, for bearing threatening, Eph. vi. 9.; to inftruct them in the principles of religion, Gen xviii 19.; to fee to their external obfer vation of the Sabbath, Exod xx. c.; and to pay them punctually their wages, Deur. xxiv. 15.

2. 30. What are the duties of fervants to their masters ? A. To be diligent and faithful in their mafter's work, not with eye fervice as men pleafers, but with good will, doing fervice as to the Lord, and not to men, Eph. vi. 6, 7.; to obey in all things their masters according to the flesh, Col. iii 22.; and please them well in all things, not answering again, Tit. ii. 9:

2. 31. Are mafters and fervants on earth, subject to one common Lord and Mafter in heaven?

A. Yes; and therefore they ought to behave towards one another, as in his fight; for there is no refpect of perfons with him, Eph. vi. 9

2 32. What are the duties of those who have a larger meature of gifts and grace conferred upon them, towards fuch as have a leffer fhare of the fame ?

A. To be exemplary in humility and felf denial, Gen. xxxiii. 10.; as having nothing but what they have received, Cor. iv. 7.; to be communicative of what the Lord has freely given them, Mat. x. 8.; and improve their talents or the benefit of themfelves and others, chap. xxv. 16.

233 What are the duties of fuch as are weaker in ifts and graces, towards those that are stronger?

A.To be followers of them in fo far as they are of Chrift 1 Cor. xii.; to be willing to learn from their experiences, Heb, vi. 12.; and to covet carnefily the best gifts, 1 Cor.xii. 31. 234. What is the duty of the armer towards the aged?

A. To honour and respect them, especially if the hoary head be found in the way of righteoufnefs, Prov. xvi. 31. Thou shalt rife up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, Lev. xix. 32.

23. What are the duties of equals to one another? A To provoke each other unto love and good works, Heb. x. 24. to be kindly affectioned one to another, in honour preferring one another, Rom. xii. Ic.

236. What is the fruit and confequence of the confcientious performance of these relative duties?

A. Hereby outward peace and concord will be better maintained between man and man, 1 Pet. iii. 1c, 11.; and likewife the members of Chrift's body will be knit more closely to one another in love, 1 John iv. 7.

65. QUEST. 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 feveral places and relations.

21. What is it to neglect the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their feveral places and relations?

A. It is not only to om t the performance of fuch relative duties altogether, but even when they are performed, to do them without any regard to the command and authority of God injoining them, Ifa. xxix. 13.

Q. 2. What is it to do any thing against the honour and duty which belongeth to every one?

A. It is to commit thefe fins which are the very oppofite of the relative duties incumbent on us, Rom. ii. 22.

2: 3. "periors?"

What are the fins of inferiors against their su

4. Envying at, contempt of, and rebellion against their "perfons and places, in their lawful counfels, commands, and corrections *."

.* Larger Cat, Queft. 128, with the fcriptures quoted.