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| Archbishop James Ussher (1581-1656) |
Answer: The reasons annexed to the
fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it,
God allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and reserving but one
for himself, in these words, Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:
from God's challenging a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the
sabbath of the Lord thy God: from the example of God, who in six days made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:
and from that blessing which God put upon that day, not only in sanctifying it
to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be a means of blessing to
us in our sanctifying it; Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and
hallowed it.
Question 121: Why is the word
Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?
Answer: The word Remember is set in
the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit
of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, and,
in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue
a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption,
which contain a short abridgment of religion; and partly, because we are very
ready to forget it, for that there is less light of nature for it, and yet it
restrains our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; that it comes
but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often
take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to
sanctify it;and that Satan with his instruments much labor to blot out the
glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.
Question 122: What is the sum of the
six commandments which contain our duty to man?
Answer: The sum of the six
commandments which contain our duty to man is, to love our neighbor as
ourselves, and to do to others: What we would have them to do to us.
Question 123: Which is the fifth
commandment?
Answer: The fifth commandment is,
Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which
the Lord thy God gives thee.
Question 124: Who are meant by
father and mother in the fifth commandment?
Answer: By father and mother, in the
fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents, but all superiors in
age and gifts; and especially such as, by God's ordinance, are over us in place
of authority, whether in family, church, or commonwealth.
Question 125: Why are superiors
styled father and mother?
Answer: Superiors are styled father
and mother, both to teach them in all duties toward their inferiors, like
natural parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their
several relations; and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and
cheerfulness in performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents.
Question 126: What is the general
scope of the fifth commandment?
Answer: The general scope of the
fifth commandment is, the performance of those duties which we mutually owe in
our several relations, as inferiors, superiors, or equals.
Question 127: What is the honor that
inferiors owe to their superiors?
Answer: The honor which inferiors
owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart, word, and behavior;
prayer and thanksgiving for them; imitation of their virtues and graces;
willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels; due submission to
their corrections; fidelity to, defense and maintenance of their persons and
authority, according to their several ranks, and the nature of their places;
bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love, that so they may be
an honor to them and to their government.
Question 128: What are the sins of
inferiors against their superiors?
Answer: The sins of inferiors
against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them;
envying at, contempt of, and rebellion against, their persons and places, in
their lawful counsels, commands, and corrections; cursing, mocking, and all
such refractory and scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonor to them
and their government.
Question 129: What is required of
superiors towards their inferiors?
Answer: It is required of superiors,
according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they
stand, to love, pray for, and bless their inferiors; to instruct, counsel, and
admonish them; countenancing, commending, and rewarding such as do well; and
discountenancing, reproving, and chastising such as do ill; protecting, and
providing for them all things necessary for soul and body: and by grave, wise,
holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God, honor to themselves, and so to preserve that
authority which God has put upon them.
Question 130: What are the sins of
superiors?
Answer: The sins of superiors are, besides the neglect of
the duties required of them, an inordinate seeking of themselves, their own
glory, ease, profit, or pleasure; commanding things unlawful, or not in the
power of inferiors to perform; counseling, encouraging, or favoring them in
that which is evil; dissuading, discouraging, or discountenancing them in that
which is good; correcting them unduly; careless exposing, or leaving them to
wrong, temptation, and danger; provoking them to wrath; or any way dishonoring
themselves, or lessening their authority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or
remiss behavior.
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