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The FIFTH Commandment
(The FOURTH Commandment) (March)
"Honour your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives you." Exodus 20:12
Having done with the first table of the law, I am next to speak of the duties of the second table. The ten commandments may be likened to Jacob's ladder: the first table respects God, and is the top of the ladder which reaches to heaven; the second respects men, and is the foot of the ladder that rests on the earth. By the first table, we walk piously towards God; by the second, we walk religiously towards man. He cannot be good in the first table—who is bad in the second.
"Honour your father and your mother." In this we have a command, "honour your father and your mother;" and, second, a reason for it, "That your days may be long in the land."
I. The COMMAND will chiefly be considered here, "Honour your father."
FATHER is of different kinds; as the political, the ancient, the spiritual, the domestic, and the natural.
[1] The POLITICAL father, the magistrate. He is the father of his country. He is to be an encourager of virtue, a punisher of vice, and a father to the widow and orphan. Such a father was Job. "I was a father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not, I searched out." Job 29:16. As magistrates are fathers, so especially the king, who is the head of magistrates, is a political father; he is placed as the sun among the lesser stars. The Scripture calls kings, "fathers." "Kings shall be your nursing fathers." Isa 49:23. They are to train up their subjects in piety, by good edicts and examples; and nurse them up in peace and pienty. Such nursing fathers were David, Hezekiah, Josiah, Constantine, and Theodosius. It is well for a people to have such nursing fathers, whose breasts milk comfort to their children. These fathers are to be honoured, for—
(1) Their place deserves honour. God has set these political fathers to preserve order and harmony in a nation, and to prevent those state convulsions which otherwise might ensue. When "there was no king in Israel, every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 17:6. It is a wonder that locusts have no king—yet they go forth by bands.
(2) God has promoted kings, that they may promote justice. As they have a sword in their hand, to signify their power; so they have a sceptre, an emblem of justice. It is said of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, that he allotted one hour each day to hear the complaints of those who were oppressed. Kings place judges about the throne, for distribution of justice. These political fathers are to be honoured. "Honour the king." 1 Pet 2:17. This honour is to be shown by a civil respect to their persons, and a cheerful submission to their laws; so far as they agree and run parallel with God's law. Kings are to be prayed for, which is a part of the honour we give them. "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Tim 2:1-2. We are to pray for kings, that God would honour them to be blessings; that under them we may enjoy the gospel of peace, and the peace of the gospel. How happy was the reign of Numa Pompilius, when swords were beaten into ploughshares, and bees made hives of the soldiers' helmets!
[2] There is the grave ANCIENT father, who is venerable for old age; whose grey hairs are resembled to the white flowers of the almond-tree. Eccl 12:5. There are fathers for seniority, on whose wrinkled brows, and in the furrows of whose cheeks is pictured the map of old age. These fathers are to be honoured. "You shall rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man." Lev 19:32. Especially those are to be honoured, who are fathers not only for their seniority—but for their piety; whose souls are flourishing when their bodies are decaying. It is a blessed sight to see springs of grace in the winter of old age; to see men stooping towards the grave—yet going up the hill of God; to see them lose their colour—yet keep their savour. Those whose silver hairs are crowned with righteousness, are worthy of double honour; they are to be honoured, not only as pieces of antiquity—but as patterns of virtue. If you see an old man fearing God, whose grace shines brightest when the sun of his life is setting—O honour him as a father, by reverencing and imitating him.
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