Q. 10. What is the third reason annexed to this command ?
A. The third reason is God's own example, who rested the seventh day from all his works, and blessed this day, by virtue of which blessing we are encouraged to sanctify it.
Q. 11. Is it not enough to sanctify this day in our own persons ?
A. No ; if God hath put any under our authority, their profaning the Sabbath will become our sin, though we be never so strict in the observation of it ourselves.
Q. 12. May we continue our civil employment to the last mo- ment of our common time ?
A. Except necessity or mercy urge us, we ought to break off be- fore, and allow some time to prepare for the Sabbath, Luke xxiii. 54. And that day Avas the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.
Q. 13. What is the first inference from hence ?
A. That we have all great cause to be humbled for our Sabbath transgressions, either in our unpreparedness for it, our want of de- light and spirituality in it, or the due government of our families as God requires.
Q. 14. What is the second inference from hence?
A. That Christians on the Sabbath-day have a fair occasion and help to realize to themselves the heavenly state, in which they are to live abstract from the world, and God is to be all in all to them.
Of the Jiflh Commandment.
Quest. 63. Which is the fifth commandment.?
A. The fifth commandment is^ [Honour thy father and thij mo- ther, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God g'lveth thee.]
Quest. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment ?
A. The fiflh comma^idment requlrcth the preserving the honour^ and performing the duties belongi?ig to every one in their several places and relations^ as superiors, inferiors, or equals. Quest. Q5. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of,or doing any
25S AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHIS>f»
thing against the honour and duty which helongeth to every one in their several places and relations.
Quest. QQ. What is the reason annexed to the fifth command- ment ?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is, a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.
Q. 1. What relatives are directly and more especially concerned in this fifth commandment ?
A. All superiors and inferiors are concerned in it; especially, (1.) Political fathers and their children ; that is, kings and subjects ; Mark xi. 10. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, &c. (2.) Spirit- ual fathers, and their children ; that is, ministers, and their people ; 1 Cor. iv. 15. For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers, for in Christ Jesus have I be- gotten you through the gospel. (3.) Natural parents, and their chil- dren ; JEph. vi. 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord. (4.) All civil superiors and inferiors, as husbands and wives, masters and servants ; Eph. v. 22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your hus- bands, as unto the Lord. And Eph. vi. 5. Servants be obedient to them that are your masters, according to the flesh, &c.
Q. 2. What is the duty of political fathers, or magistrates, to their political children, or subjects ?
A. It is to rule and govern the people over whom God hath set them with wisdom ; 2 Chron. i. 10. Give me now wisdom and know- ledge, that I may go out and come in before this people. Justice ; S Chron. xix. 5, 6, 7. And he set judges in the land, throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city. And he said to the judges, take heed what ye do ; for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now, let the fear of the Lord be upon you, take heed, and do it, &c. And piety ; 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. Carefully providing for their souls in every place of their do- minion ; 2 Chron. xvii. 9- And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And for their common outward peace and safety; 2 Chron. xvii. 12. And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly, and he built in Judah castles and cities of store.
Q. 3. What are the duties of subjects to their rulers ?
A. It is to pray for them ; 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. I exhort therefore, that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men : For kings, and for all that are in authority, &c.
To honour them ; 1 Pet. ii. 17. Fear God, honour the king. To
obey their just laws; Rom. xiii. 1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, t^-c. And to pay them the tribute that is due to them ; Rom. xiii. 7. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, 4'C.
AN EXfOSlTION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 239