To prevent such sad occasions of complaints as these, I desire all that sustain the relation of children, into whose hands provi- dence shall cast this discourse, seriously to ponder this example of Christ, proposed for their imitation in this point. Wherein we shall first consider what duties belong to the relation of children : secondly, how Christ's example enforces those duties, and then suitably apply it.
First, Let us examine what duties pertain to the relation of
* Tesig dv^o^ag 1% w o/X/a (jwizuIou. Arist. f Ojitimus in unoquoque gencre est rcgula et mensura cccterorum.
SERM. XXXI. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 385
children) and they are as truly, as commonly branched out into the following particulars.
First, Fear and reverence arc due from children to their parents, by the express command of God, Lev. xix. 3. Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father. The Holy Ghost purposely in- verts the order, and puts the mother first, because she, by reason of her blandishments, and fond indulgence, is most subject to the irreverence and contempt of children. God hath clothed parents with his authority. They are intrusted by God with them, and are accountable to him for the souls and bodies of their children ; and he expects that you reverence them, although, in respect of outward estate, or honour, you be never so much above them. Joseph, though Lord of Egypt, bowed down before his aged father, with his face to the earth, Gen. xlviii. 12. Solomon, the most magnificent and glorious king that ever swayed a sceptre, when his mother came to speak with him for Adonijah, he rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and caused a seat to be set up for the king's mother, and set her upon his right hand, 2 Kings ii. 19.
Secondly, Dear and tender love is due from children to their pa- rents : and to shew how strong and dear that love ought to be, it is joined with the love you have for your own lives ; as it appears in that injunction, to deny both for Christ's sake, Mat. x. 37. The bonds of nature are strong and direct betwixt parents and children. What is the child but a piece of the parent wrapped up in another skin ? O the care, the cost, the pity, the tenderness, the pains, the fears they have expressed for you. It is worse than Heathenish in- gratitude, not to return love for love. This filial love is not only in itself a duty, but should be the root or spring of all your duties to them.
Thirdly, Obedience to their commands is due to them, by the Lord's strict and special command, Eph. vi. 1. " Children obey " your parents in the Lord, for this is right ; honour thy father " and thy mother, which is the first commandment with promise.'" Filial obedience is not only founded upon the positive law of God, l>ut also upon the law of nature ; for though the subjection of chil- dren to parents is due to them by natural right; therefore, saith the apostle, this is right, (i. e.) right both according to natural and positive law. However, this subjection and obedience is not abso- lute and universal. God has not divested himself of his own au- thority, to clothe a parent with it. Your obedience to them must be in the Lord,11 i. e, in such things as they require you to do in the Lord's authority. In things consonant to that divine and holy will, to which they, as well as you, must be subject ; and therein
386 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XXXI.
you must obey them. Yea, even the wickedness of a parent ex- empts not from obedience, where his command is not so. Nor, on the other side, must the holiness of a parent sway you, where his commands and God's are opposite. In the former case, the Canonists * have determined, " that the command must be distin- guished from the person.1' In the latter, it is a good rule, " My parents must be loved, but my God must be preferred."
Yield yourselves, therefore, cheerfully to obey all that which they lawfully enjoin, and take heed of that black character fixed on the Heathens who know not God, be not found upon you, " disobedience to parents," Rom. i. 30. Remember, your disobe- dience to their just commands rises higher, much higher, than an affront to their personal authority ; it is disobedience to God him- self, whose commands second, and strengthen theirs upon you.
Fourthly, Submission to their discipline and rebukes, is also your duty, Heb. xii. 9- " We had fathers of our own flesh that cor- " rected us, and we gave them reverence." Parents ought not to abuse their authority. " Cruelty -f* in them is a great sin, wrath " and rebellion in a child against his parents, is monstrous." Jt is storied of Elian, that having been abroad, at his return, his father asked him what he had learned since he went from him ; he an- swered, you will know shortly ; I have learned to bear your anger quietly, and submit to what you please to inflict. Two considera- tions should especially mould others into the like frame, especially to their godly parents. The end for which, and the manner in which they manifest their anger to their children. Their end is to save your souls from hell. They j udge it better for you to hear the voice of their anger, than the terrible voice of the wrath of God : to feel their hand than his. They know, if you fall into the hands of the living God, you will be handled in another manner.
And for the manner in which they rebuke and chasten, it is with grief in their hearts, and tears in their eyes. Alas ! it is no delight to them to cross, vex, or afflict you. Were it not mere conscience of their duty to God, and tender love to your souls, they would neither chide nor smite : and when they do, how do they afflict themselves in afflicting you ! W^hen their faces are full of anger, their bowels are full of compassion for you ; and you have no more reason to blame them for what they do, than if they cry out and violently snatch at you, when they see you ready to fall from the top of a rock.
Fifthly -, Faithfulness to all their interests is due to them, by the natural and positive law of God. What in you lies, you are bound
'" OJJicium a persona d'uscernendum. Amandus genitor, scd prtvponendus Creator. 1 Sect ilia patris infilios grave peccatum, sed iraJHii injtatrem, grave crimen.
SERM. XXXI. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 387