A Body of Practical Divinity

(3.) Honour is to be shown to Parents in relieving their Wants. Joseph cherished his Father in his Old Age, Gen. 47.12. It is but the paying a just Debt. Parents have brought up Children when they were young, and Children ought to nourish their Parents when they are old. The young Storks by the Instinct of Nature bring Meat to the Old Storks, when by reason of Age there are not able to fly, Pliny. Lex Pelargica—The Memory of Aeneas was honoured, for carrying his Aged Father out of Troy when it was on Fire. I have read of a Daughter, whose Father being condemned to be starved to Death, she did in Prison give him Suck with her own Breasts, which being known to the Governors, procured his Freedom out of Prison. To blame are such, shall I say Children or Monsters, who are ashamed of their Parents when they are old, and fallen to decay. When Parents Tears and lean Cheeks may plead Pity, yet Children have no Compassion: When they ask for Bread they give them a Stone. When Houses are shut up, we say the Plague is there. When Children's Hearts are shut up against their Parents, the Plague is in those Hearts. Our blessed Saviour took great Care for his Mother: When he was on the Cross, he charged his Disciple John to take her home to him as his Mother, and see that she wanted nothing, John 19.26, 27. The Reasons why Children should honour their Parents, are:

(3.) Honour is to be shown to Parents in relieving their Wants. Ioseph cherished his Father in his Old Age, Gen. 47.12. It is but the paying a just Debt. Parents have brought up Children when they were young, and Children ought to nourish their Parents when they are old. The young Storks by the Instinct of Nature bring Meat to the Old Storks, when by reason of Age ther are not able to fly, Pliny. Lex Pelargica—The Memory of Aeneas was honoured, for carrying his Aged Father out of Troy when it was on Fire. I have read of a Daughter, whose Father being condemned to be starv'd to Death, she did in Prison give him Suck with her own Breasts, which being known to the Governours, procured his Freedom out of Prison. To blame are such, shall I say Children or Monsters, who are ashamed of their Parents when they are old, and fallen to decay. When Parents Tears and lean Cheeks may plead Pity, yet Children have no Compassion: When they ask for Bread they give them a Stone. When Houses are shut up, we say the Plague is there. When Childrens Hearts are shut up against their Parents, the Plague is in those Hearts. Our blessed Saviour took great Care for his Mother: When he was on the Cross, he charg'd his Disciple Iohn to take her home to him as his Mother, and see that she wanted nothing,