A Golden Chain

The second testimony of Christs righteousness given in the middest of his passion was, that he beheld his mother standing by, and commended her to the custody of John his disciple:¹ whereby he gave an example of most holy obedience unto the fifth commandment, which prescribeth honour unto father and mother. And this his fact showeth, that the observing of this commandment standeth not in outward show and reverence only; but in a godly recompense, in procuring unto parents all the good we can, both concerning this and a better life. It often falls out that children be as it were Cains to father and mother: some rail on them, some fight with them; others see them pine away and starve, and not relieve them. But all dutiful children must here learn, that as their parents have done many duties unto them, and brought them up: so they again must in all reverence perform obedience unto them both in word and deed: and when occasion is offered relieve them, yea in all they can, do good unto them. Again in this we may see what a wretched ⟨p. 329⟩state is that which the Church of Rome calleth the state of perfection; namely to live apart from the company of men, in fasting and praying all the days of a mans life: for hereby the bond of nature is broken, and a man can not do the duty unto his parents which Gods law requireth, and Christ here himself practiseth, nor the duties of a member of Christ which are to be done to the whole Church, and to the rest of the members thereof.

The second testimonie of Christs righteousnesse giuen in the middest of his passion was, that he behelde his mother standing by, and commended her to the custodie of Iohn his disciple:¹ whereby he gaue an example of most holy obedience vnto the fifth commandement, which prescribeth honour vnto father and mother. And this his fact sheweth, that the obseruing of this commandement standeth not in outward shew and reuerence onely; but in a godly recompence, in procuring vnto parents all the good we can, both concerning this and a better life. It often falls out that children be as it were Cains to father and mother: some raile on them, some fight with them; others see them pine away and sterue, and not releeue them. But all dutiful children must here learne, that as their parents haue done many duties vnto them, and brought them vp: so they againe must in all reuerence performe obedience vnto them both in word and deede: and when occasion is offered releeue them, yea in all they can, doe good vnto them. Againe in this we may see what a wretched