A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

and now their precepts do often thwart or jar with the will of him who is Sovereign Lord, whom to please is the determination or limit, as well as motive to Children's obedience. This agrees with the sense of Arch-bishop Anselm. ^†580 years ago expounding my Text. How ⟨p. 405⟩it will relish now with those of his order in an Hypothesis of theirs, I determine not: But he saith, that Natural and Ecclesiastical, Carnal and Spiritual Parents are to be obeyed in all things only in the Lord: i. e. (saith he) in those things only which are not beside, or Do not exceed the precept of the Lord: because it is pleasing unto God, that in such a manner we should obey them. It should seem he held then according to truth, that if a Superior should exceed his commission by imposing any preter-evangelical Canon for Doctrine or practice, the Inferiors non-conformity thereunto was no transgression: For in obeying the commands of a subordinate power ^(b)we are primarily to take care, that the rights of the absolute Sovereign remain inviolable: seeing God gave the Parent that Authority he hath, in requiring that which is displeasing to God he hath none. And as the Child is to obey him, so he is to obey God, without whose warrant his child is not obliged to active obedience, but passive, or submission by suffering the penalty with cheerfulness: that is pleasing to God in such a case. For the truth is, It is thank-worthy, if one for Conscience towards God endure grief, suffering wrongfully^(c): this is acceptable with God, whatever acceptance it find among men; there is a grace in this behaviour before God. Now the great thing Children are to look at in their obedience to Parents is, that it be well-pleasing to God (so saith my Text); and if they obey without his warrant, who can secure them they shall do what is acceptable with him? God is to have an affection predominant to that we have for our Parents^(d): We must not dishonour him in pretension to honour them. In things impious or dishonest Parents have no authority; herein disobedience would be just, and obsequiousness criminal. Hence we find Acrotatus commended amongst the Ancients, because, when his Parents had required of him to do an unjust thing, he answered, I know you are willing I should do that which is just, for so you taught me to do: I will therefore do that which you desire I should, but what you bid me I will not do.