1. Reverence, which is a due and awful estimation of their persons, as to this relation, placed in eminency above their children, to acknowledge them from God himself (the Supreme Parent of us all)(f) the authors, preservers, and governors of their lives: and upon that account to honour them in their hearts, speeches, and behaviours, from an honest desire to please, and filial fear to offend them, whose children they are, of what rank soever they now appear in the world: and therefore to comport themselves so in all the actions of their lives before God and men, that they render themselves acceptable to their Parents: Yea, to both of them; the law requires reverence to the Mother as well as the Father(g): the word which is in one verse fear, is in another translated reverence; to the claim of which the Mother there seems to be favoured with some kind of priority: because Children, who have most needed their Mothers, in their tender years are apt many times to despise them, as more subject to infirmities, and as looking for less of respect from their hands. So that really to give them honour, is a fuller evidence of cordial performance. The Lord is pleased to begin there, where the duty is most tried, Reverence thy Mother and thy Father. 3Both are to be had in a just veneration. Plato and Aristotle could by Nature's light teach thus: [Greek or Hebrew]. This as the prime law of Nature, the Spartans, and generally all Nations of old did, and Chinoises at this day do maintain with admirable care. Now doing reverence to the Fathers of our flesh (h)in ⟨p. 393⟩Scripture may comprehend what Children owe to their Parents, both with reference to their speech and behaviour: (1) With respect to their speech, that it be seasonable, and agreeable to the relation, graced with humility (i)and modesty in all converse with them in presence, and discourse of them in absence. They should give them honourable titles, as that of Father and Mother do connote dignity(k): and so, Sir, or Lord(l); thus we have good Children in the Book of God saluting their Parents: as Isaac his Father Abraham(m); Jacob Isaac(n); David Saul his Father in law(o); Solomon Bathsheba, my Mother(p); Rachel Laban, making her Apology, My Lord(q); David again Saul(r);
1. Reverence, which is a due and awful estimation of their persons, as to this relation, placed in eminencie above their children, to acknowledg them from God himself (the Supreme Parent of us all)(f) the authors, preservers, and governors of their lives: and upon that account to honour them in their hearts, speeches, and behaviours, from an honest desire to please, and filial fear to offend them, whose children they are, of what rank soever they now appear in the world: and therefore to comport themselves so in all the actions of their lives before God and men, that they render themselves acceptable to their Parents: Yea, to both of them; the law requires reverence to the Mother as well as the Father(g): the word which is in one verse fear, is in another translated reverence; to the claim of which the Mother there seems to be favour'd with some kind of priority: because Children, who have most needed their Mothers, in their tender years are apt many times to despise them, as more subject to infirmities, and as looking for less of respect from their hands. So that really to give them honour, is a fuller evidence of cordial performance. The Lord is pleas'd to begin there, where the duty is most tried, Reverence thy Mother and thy Father. 3Both are to be had in a just veneration. Plato and Aristotle could by Nature's light teach thus: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. This as the prime law of Nature, the Spartans, and generally all Nations of old did, and Chinoises at this day do maintain with admirable care. Now doing reverence to the Fathers of our flesh (h)in ⟨p. 393⟩Scripture may comprehend what Children owe to their Parents, both with reference to their speech and behaviour: (1) With respect to their speech, that it be seasonable, and agreeable to the relation, grac'd with humility (i)and modesty in all converse with them in presence, and discourse of them in absence. They should give them honourable titles, as that of Father and Mother do connote dignity(k): and so, Sir, or Lord(l)
- (f)Acts 17.28.
- (g)Levit. 19.3. with 30.
- 3de leg. l. 4. Ethic. l. 9. l. 2. Spizel. de re literar. Sineas. p. 243.
- (h)Heb. 9.12.
- (i)1 Pet. 5.5.
- (k)Jer. 31.9. Gal. 4.6.
- (l)Mat. 21.30. [Greek or Hebrew]Mat. 21.30. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- (m)Gen. 22.11.
- (n)— 17.18.
- (o)1 Sam. 24.28.
- (p)1 King 2.20, 21.
- (q)Gen. 31.35.
- (r)1 Sam. 26.18.
