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in him, he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell a-
'lone, without the camp shall his habitation be,' Lev. xiii. 46.
It may farther be observed, that his son managed the affairs
of the kingdom for him; so that the use which is made by the
Papists of this scripture, to give countenance to their doctrine
of deposing princes, is foreign to the true sense thereof.

4. There is one more scripture-example which the Papists
bring, whereby they defend their practice, not only of depo-
sing, but murdering princes; and that is in 2 Kings xi. 15.
But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hun-
dreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, have her forth
without the ranges; and him that followeth her, kill with the
sword. For the priest had said, let her not be slain in the
house of the Lord. But to this it may be replied,

[1st] That Athaliah was plainly an usurper, not only by
reason of her sex, since a woman was not to reign over Israel,
or Judah But she killed all the seed royal, to establish her-
self in the throne, except Joash, who escaped, being hid from
her fury, in an apartment belonging to the temple, 2 Chron.

xxii. 11.

[2dly,] What Jehoiada did in deposing her, was not only
with a good design to set up the lawful heir; but it was done
by an express command of the Lord, chap. xxiii. 3.

[3dly,] Joash was proclaimed, and anointed, and universal-
ly owned as king by the people, before Athaliah was slain, 2
Kings xi. 12,-14.

VI. We are now to consider the sins of inferiors against
their superiors. These are expressed in general terms, in one
of the answers we are explaining; namely, neglecting the du-
ties we owe to them, envying at, and contempt of their per-
sons, places, and lawful counsels and commands, and all re-
fractory carriage, that may prove a shame and dishonour to
their government; but, more particularly, inferiors sin against
their superiors.

1. In divulging their secrets; and that either as to what re-
spects the affairs of their families, or their secular callings in
the world.

2. In mocking, reproaching, or exposing their infirmities.
Thus it is said, The eye that mocketh at his father, and despi-
seth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out,
and the young eagles shall eat it, Prov. xxx. 17.

3. In endeavouring to make disturbance or disorders in fa-
milies, or the common-wealth, through discontent with their
station as inferiors, or a desire to rule over those to whom they
ought to be in subjection.

4. Servants sin, in neglecting to fulfil their contract, or do
the service which they engaged to perform, when they first en-
VOL. III.

3 X

tered into that relation. Or when they are only disposed to perform the duties incumbent on them, when they are under their master's eye, having no sense of common justice, or their obligation to approve themselves to God, in performing the duties they owe to man. Thus the apostle exhorts servants, to be obedient to them which are their masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ. Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, Eph, vi. 5, 6.

5. Children sin, by being unnatural to their parents, who refuse or neglect to maintain them if they need it, especially when they are aged; whereby they will appear to have no sense of gratitude, for past favours, nor regard to that duty which nature obliges them to perform.

QUEST. CXXIX. What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?

ANSW. 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; 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, honour to themselves, and so to preserve the authority which God hath put upon them.

QUEST. CXXX. What are the sins of superiors?

ANSW. The sins of superiors are, beside the neglect of the duties required of them, and inordinate seeking of themselves, their own glory, ease, profit, or pleasure; commanding things unlawful, or not in the power of inferiors to perform; counselling, encouraging, or favouring 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 dishonouring themselves, or lessening their authority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss behaviour.

QUEST. CXXXI. What are the duties of equals?

ANSW. The duties of equals are, to regard the dignity and

worth of each other, in giving honour to go one before another, and to rejoice in each others gifts and advancement, as in their own.

QUEST. CXXXII. What are the sins of equals?

ANSW. The sins of equals are, beside the neglect of the duties required, the undervaluing of the worth, envying the gifts, grieving at the advancement or prosperity one of another, and usurping pre-eminence one over another.

QUEST. CXXXIII. What is the reason annexed to the fifth Commandment the more to enforce it?

ANSW. The reason annexed to the fifth Commandment, in these words, [That thy days may be long upon the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee] is an express 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,

I. W E are to consider the duties which superiors owe to their inferiors, Whatever circumstance of advancement one has above another in the world, this is a peculiar gift of God, and should not give occasion to that pride of heart which is natural to fallen man, which puts him upon casting contempt on those who are below him; much less should they oppress others, who are in a lower station of life than themselves; but should endeavour to do good to them, and thereby glorify God. And, indeed, as every relation is mutual, and calls for its respective duties, so that superiors expect the duty which belongs to them, from inferiors; it is equally just and reasonable that they should not neglect those duties which they are obliged to perform to them; though they be of another nature, different from those which they demand from them. Here we shall consider,

2. The duty of parents to children. This not only includes in it the using their utmost endeavours to promote their worldly advantage, as to what respects their present or future condition in life; but they ought to have a just concern for their spiritual welfare, which is a duty very much neglected, though it be incumbent on all parents, and will be performed by those who have a sense of God and religion upon their spirits; this the apostle calls bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Eph. vi. 4. When children are first capable of being instructed; or when they first take in the knowledge of common things; then it is the parent's duty to instil into

them those things that are spiritual. It is, indeed, a difficult matter to speak to them about divine things, so as to lead them into the knowledge thereof; and it requires a great measure of wisdom and faithfulness in them. One of the first duties that they owe to them, is acknowledging God's right to them, putting them under his care, giving them up to him, hoping and trusting in Christ, that he will bestow on them the saving blessings of the covenant of grace, and that in their early age of life. Moreover, since children soon discover themselves to have a corrupt nature: This ought to be checked and fenced against, as much as it is in our power: Since all habits of sin are of an increasing nature, and though it be difficult to prevent them; yet we shall find it much more so to root them

out.

Now that we may instil into the minds of children, the principles of religion, as soon as they are capable of receiving instruction, let it be observed,

(1.) That parents must take great care that they neither speak nor act any thing before their children, which may tend to corrupt their minds, or afford a bad example, which it would be of pernicious consequence to them to follow; nor ought they to suffer those passions to break forth, which may render them mean and contemptible in the eyes of their children; or give them occasion, by their example, to indulge the same passions.

(2.) They must take heed that they do not exercise severity for trifles, or those inadvertencies which children are chargeable with, on the one hand; nor too much indulge them in that incorrigibleness and profaneness which they sometimes see in them, on the other.

(3.) They must separate from them all companions, or servants, from whom they may imbibe the principles of sin, and oblige those who have the immediate care of their education, to instil into them the principles of religion, and, at the same time, to recommend to them, the pleasure, beauty, and advantage of holiness in all, but especially in young ones,

(4.) The examples which we have, either in scripture, or our own observation in the world, of those who have devoted themselves to God, and been religious betimes, is to be frequently inculcated, for their imitation, with all the affecting and moving expressions that it is possible for them to use, and with a particular application thereof to their case; and, on the other hand, the miserable consequences which have attended persons neglecting to embrace the ways of God in the days of their youth, and the sore judgments which often ensue hereupon; as it is said, His bones are full of the sin of youth, Job

XX. 11.

(5.) Reproofs for sin are to be given, with a zeal and concern for the glory of God; and yet with that affection as may convince children, that in those things, in which they are ready to think their parents their enemies, they appear to be their greatest friends.

(6.) They, who have the care of children, ought to take heed, that they do not lead them into, or give them occasion, to rest in, a formal, or external appearance of religion, on the one hand; nor, on the other hand, are they to use any methods which may induce them to think, that, a burden, or a reproach, which they ought to esteem their delight and honour.

(7.) Those opportunities are more especially to be embraced, when instructions are most likely to be regarded by them; as when they are inquisitive about divine things. This should give the parent occasion to be particular in explaining them to them. Thus God commands Israel, when thy son asketh thee in time to come, what mean the testimonies and the statutes, and the judgments; which the Lord thy God commanded you? to say unto him, we were Pharaoh's bondsmen, Deut. vi. 20, 21. and so they were to relate to them those dispensations of providence towards them, that gave occasion to these statutes which he had appointed.

(8.) Parents should let their children know, that their obedience to God's commands, will always entitle them to the greatest share in their affection, that this may be a motive and inducement thereunto,

2. We are now to consider the duty which masters owe to their servants. And,

(1.) They ought to recommend the good ways of God to them, endeavouring to persuade them to be religious; and, by their exemplary conversation in their families, whereby they adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, in all things, afford them an additional motive hereunto.

(2.) They should encourage religion in their servants, as well as diligence and industry. For, as the one tends to their advantage, to whom their service is due; the other tends to the glory of God, and the good of their souls, who are found in the practice of it.

(3.) Masters should endeavour to instruct their servants in the principles of religion, especially if ignorant. And,

(4.) They should allow them sufficient time for religious duties; which, if needful, ought to be taken out of that time, wherein they would otherwise be employed in their service: And this they ought to do, as considering, that the best Christians are like to make the most faithful servants.

3. We are now to consider the duty of magistrates towards their subjects. This consists,

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