A family well-ordered. Or An essay to render parents and children happy in one…

First, You Set Light by your Parents, if you withhold from them, the Reverence that is due unto them. The God of Nature hath placed a Distance, between Parents and their Children; Children ⟨p. 60⟩then Set Light by their Parents, when they Forget this Distance. There is first, an Inward Reverence, that Children owe unto their Parents. It was Enjoined in Lev. 19.3. Ye shall Fear, every man, his Mother, and his Father. Children, you Set Light by your Parents, if your minds are not Struck, with some awful Apprehension of their Superiority over you; if you don't see an awful Image of God, in their Superiority; if you don't look upon them, as the very Deputies of God, in their several Families. But this Reverence must have some Outward Expression given of it. There is an Outward Reverence, that Children owe unto their Parents. Hence 'tis said, in Mal. 1.6▪ If I be a Father, where is my Honour? Hence 'tis said, in Prov. 31.28. Her Children Rise up, and call her Blessed. Their Speeches, both to their Parents, & of their Parents, must be full of Reverence. When Children speak to their Parents, their Language must carry in it, some Acknowledgement of their being such. Thus, in Gen. 31.35. She said unto her Father, my Lord. When Children speak of their Parents, they must show a concern, that nothing Abusive be uttered. ⟨p. 61⟩Thus, in Psal. 127.5. The Children of Youth, seem to Defend their Father, from the Enemies in the Gate, or, False-Accusers. And their Actions towards their Parents must yet more Emphatically Speak the Reverence, which they would Retain for them. Thus in Gen. 48.12. Joseph bowed himself, with his Face to the Earth, before his Father. Thus in 1 King. 2.10