A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

and often in the new Testament the commands are reckoned and instanced by that Table, especially when duties betwixt man and man are pressed: And if it be said, that it is the only command of the second Table, that hath a promise, it is answered, it is the only command that hath an express promise: Beside it is not absurd to read it thus, it is the first command (i.e.) of the second Table; and to press it the more, the promise added to it is mentioned; so that to urge obedience to it the more strongly, it is not only the first Command, saith the Apostle of the second Table, but it hath a promise also added to it: And this certainly is the Apostles scope to press its observation.

In the precept we are 1. To consider the Object, Father and Mother: 2. The Duty, honour. 1. Again, concerning the first, it is to be considered that this Command in its scope respecteth ⟨p. 313⟩the duty that we owe to all Relations, whether they be above us, inferior to us, or equal with us: This is clear from Christs summing all the second Table, and consequently this command with the rest, in that comprehensive general. Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self; and therefore our Neighbour in general must be the object of this Command, as well as of the rest, and so it taketh in all the duties of honour that every one oweth to another, whatever be their place; there is a duty of honour and respect called for from every one to every one: And so Eph. 5.22. it is pressed upon Wives toward their Husbands; and 1 Pet. 3.7. upon Husbands towards their Wives, which must be comprehended here: Thus Father and Mother are here to be largely and synecdo •h scaly understood, one sort of Relations being in a figurative manner put for all the rest. 2. Under them are comprehended all Superiors for place, in Church or Common-wealth, who in Scripture get the Title of Fathers, as Magistrates, Supreme and Subaltern, Ministers and all Church-Officers, Teachers, Overseers, and all in the place of Fathers,