Here again we are called, in the first place, to notice those of the inferior : 1. Of children —
[Obedience is your duty also : nor is there any limit to the exercise of this duty, except where you are required to violate a command of God. Reason indeed is sufficient to teach you this : for your own ignorance and inexperience must of necessity direct you to look up to your parents for instruc- tion and guidance. But revelation teaches you to regard the authority of your parents as God's authority, and to consider obedience to them as obedience to him. In fulfilling the commands of parents, there should be no reluctance : on the contrary, to please, and serve, and honour his parents should be the desire and delight of every child. He should have no wish to shake off their yoke ; no desire to act independently of them. Nor let this be thought hard : for God has annexed a special promise to the fulfilment of this duty : the command relating to it is said to be " the first commandment with pro- misef ;" and it is generally to be observed, that the blessing of God does rest in a more especial manner, throughout the whole of their lives, on those who have honoured and obeyed their earthly parents. This may be accounted for on natural principles; for the dispositions which are exercised in filial obedience argue a degree of self-government, which will go far to render a man both amiable and prosperous in every situa- tion and condition of life. But besides this, the blessing of God will assuredly rest on such characters ; and He, as the universal Parent, will recompense into their bosom their compliance with this command.]
2. Of parents —
[Both in the text, and in the parallel passage in the Epistle to the Ephesians, there is a restraint laid on parents with regard to the exercise of their authority: it is not to be attended with harshness or severity, " lest they provoke their children to anger, and discourage them" from attempting to fulfil their duty, under the idea, that, whatever efforts they may use to please their parents, it will be a hopeless task. Parents have much to answer for, when they produce such an effect as this on their children's minds. If on the one hand it be said, that " there is much folly in the heart of a child, and that the rod of correction must drive it out," it must be re- membered, on the other hand, that the mind of a child may soon be cast down, and that we may' by harsh restrictions and undue severity augment that very rebellion which we endea-
f Eph. vi. 1—3.