A Body of Practical Divinity

Secondly, Reverence in speaking of Parents. Children must speak of their Parents honourably; they ought to speak well of them if they deserve well. Prov. 31.28. Her Children rise up and call her Blessed. And in case a Parent betrays Weakness and Indiscretion, the Child should make the best of it, and by his wise Apologies for his Father, cover his Fathers Nakedness.

(2.) In Gesture. Children are to show their Reverence to their Parents by Submissive Behaviour, by uncovering the Head, bending the Knee. Joseph, tho he were a Great Prince, and his Father grown poor, yet he bowed to him, and behaved himself as humbly as if his Father had been the Prince, and he the poor Man, Gen. 48.46. And King Solomon, when his Mother came to him, rose off his Throne, and bowed himself to her, 1 Kings 2.19. Among the Lacedaemonians, if a Child had carried himself arrogantly and saucily to his Father, it was lawful for the Father to appoint whom he would to be his Heir. O how many Children are far from this giving Reverence to their Parents! They despise their Parents; they carry themselves with that Pride and Malapertness towards them, that they are a shame to Religion, and bring their Parents Grey Hairs with Sorrow to the Grave. Deut. 27.16. Cursed be he that setteth light by his Father or Mother. If all that set light by their Parents are Cursed, how many Children in our Age are under a Curse! If such as are disrespectful to their Parents live to have Children, they will be Thorns in their sides, and God will make them read their Sin in their Punishment.

(2.) In Gesture. Children are to show their Reverence to their Parents by Submissive Behaviour, by uncovering the Head, bending the Knee. Ioseph, tho he were a Great Prince, and his Father grown poor, yet he bow'd to him, and behaved himself as humbly as if his Father had been the Prince, and he the poor Man, Gen. 48.46. And King Solomon, when his Mother came to him, rose off his Throne, and bowed himself to her,