Q. 4. What are the duties of ministers to their people ? A. Their duty is, (1.) To feed their flock constantly with whole- some food ; 2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word, be instant in season, and out of season ; rebuke, reprove, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine. (2.) To be full of bowels of tender affection to them ; 1 Thess. ii. 7, 8. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children : So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. (3.) To pray for them, Eph. i. 15, 16. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. (4.) To watch over them ; 1 Pet. v. 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but wil- lingly, &c. And, (5.) To walk as an example of godliness before them ; Tit. ii. 7. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works, &c. All which duties require their residence among them ; 1 Pet. v. 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, &c. Q. 5. What are the people's duties towards their ministers ? A. Their duty is, (1.) To esteem and love them dearly for their work's sake; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you ; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. (2.) To attend on the word preached by them, as the word of God ; 1 Thess. ii. 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God. (3.) To pray for them, and the success of their labours ; Heb. xiii. 18. Pray for us, &c. (4.) Not to receive light and malicious reports against them ; 1 Tim. v. 19. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. (5.) To make a competent and comfortable provision for them ; Gal. vi. 6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Q. 6. What are the duties of natural parents to their children ? A. It is their duty, (1.) To be tenderly, but not fondly affection- ate to, and tender over them ; Isa. xlix. 15. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb ? (2.) To educate them for God ; Eph. vi. 4. And ye fa- thers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (3.) To restrain their sins by correction; Prov. xxix. 15. The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (4.) To provide for their livelihood ; 1 Tim. v. 8. But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. (5.) To pray daily for them ; Job i. 5, And it was so, when the days of tlieir feasting were gone about, that
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Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morn, and of- fered burnt- offerings according to the number of them all : for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts : Thus did Job continually. (6.) To encourage them with endearing language in the way of godliness ; Prov. xxxi. 2, S. The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. What, my son ? and what the son of my womb ? and what the son of my vows? Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Q. 7. What are the duties of children to parents ?
A. Their duty is, (1.) To obey them only in the Lord; Eph. vi, 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord. (2.) To reverence and honour them ; Lev, xix. 3. Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father, &c. (3.) To submit to their reproofs and corrections ; Heb. xii. 9. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence. (4) To provide for them, if they be poor and needy, and we have ability ; Gen. xlvii. 12. And Joseph nourished his father and his brethren, and all his .father s household, with bread, according to their families.
Q. 8. What shall children do when parents abuse their authority, hy forbidding duty, or commanding sin ?
A. In such cases children are to obey God, rather than their parents; Acts iv. 19. But Peter and John answered, and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you, more than unto God, judge ye. But yet to manage their refusals of obedience with all meekness and humility.
Q. 9. What is the first duty of husbands to their wives ?
A. The first duty, on which all other duties depend, is cohabita- tion with them; 1 Pet. iii. 7. Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them, according to knowledge, &c. And nothing can make this duty void, but a lawful divorce for adultery ; Mat. v. 31, 32. But I say unto you. That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery, &c.
Q. 10. What is the husband's second duty to his wife ?
A. True and hearty love to soul and body; Eph. v. 25. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave him- self for it. Evidencing itself in careful provision for them ; 1 Cor. vii. 83. But he that is married, careth for the things of the world, how he may please his wife. But especially to their souls, in winning them to Christ; 1 Cor. vii. 16. Or, how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife ? And building them up in Christ ; 1 Pet. iii. 7. Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them according to know- ledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.
Q. 11. What are the duties of wives to their husbands.?
A. It is their duty. (1.) to be in subjection to their own husbands;
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Eph. V. 22, 23. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands^ as unto the Lord : For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. (2.) To reverence them ; Eph. v. 33. And the wife see tliat slie reverence her husband. (3.) To ex- press tlicir reverence in suitable words and actions; 1 Pet. iii. 6. Even as Sarah obeyed lAbrah am, calling him Lord, <SfC. (4.) To be faith- ful to them ; Prov. xxxi. 12. She will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. (5.) To adorn their relation with meekness, and quietness of spirit ; 1 Pet. iii. 4. But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Q. 12. What are the duties of servants to their masters ?