Question 65

How many ways may we sin against the fifth Commandement?

We may sin against the fifth Commandement two wayes. 1. By neglect of the duties therein prescribed. 2. By doing any thing against the honour which belongeth unto every one in their several places and relations.

What are the sins of Children against their Parents?

The sins of Children against their Parents are, 1. Irreverence towards them, and any ways dishonouring of them either in speech or behaviour, Cursed be he that setteth light by his Father or his Mother, and all the people shall say, Amen,^a Who so curseth his Father or his Mother, his Lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.^b 2. Disobedience to their Commands, The Eye that mocketh at his Father, and despiseth to obey his Mother, the Ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and young Eagles shall eat it.^c 3. Unteachableness and refusal of their instruction, Hear instruction and be wise, refuse it not,^d And thou mourn at last, and say, How have I hated instruction, and have not obeyed the voyce of my Teachers?^e 4. Stubbornness and Incorrigibleness under their reproofs and corrections, And he said, Why do yee such things? I hear of your evil dealings; notwithstanding they hearkned not unto the voyce of their Father.^f 5. Wastefulness of their substance, unthankfulness for their care and favours, or any ways unkindness to them, especially when they are aged and in distress, He that wasteth his Father, and chaseth away his Mother, is a Son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach,^g Despise not thy Mother when she is old.^h 6. Disposal of themselves unto Callings, or in Marriages without their consent or advice, And Esau was forty years old when he took to Wife Judith the Daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the Daughter of Elon the Hittite: Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.ⁱ

What are the sins of Parents against their Children?

The sins of Parents against their Children are, 1. Want of Natural Affection, and tenderness towards them, especially when Infants, or sick and helpless, Without Natural Affection,^j She is hardned against her young ones, as though they were not hers.^k 2. Too fond love, giving them their wills, and subjecting themselves thereunto; together with partial love, and that expressing it self more to the less deserving, and less to the more deserving. 3. Neglect of their Souls, to give them instruction, and seasonable, and needful Correction; as also neglect of their bodies, to make convenient provision for them, He that spareth his Rod hateth his Son,^l If any provide not for his own, he is worse than an Infidel.^m 4 Cruelty towards them, and unreasonable provoking of them unto anger, Ye Fathers provoke not your children to wrath,ⁿ Fathers provoke not your children to wrath lest they be discourag’d.^o 5. Encouragement of them either by their commands or example in well doing, or discouragement of them, either by their prohibition or frowns and displeasure in well doing. 6. Opposition of that which is really for their good, either in reference unto their Calling or Marriage.

What are the sins of Wives against their husbands?

The sins of Wives against their Husbands are, 1. Want of that due reverence and honour, and endeared love which they should have for their Husbands above all others, And Michael saw David dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.^p 2. Infidelity in breaking the Marriage Covenant, or revealing any secrets committed by their Husbands unto them, To deliver thee from the strange Woman, who forsaketh the Guide of her Youth, and forgetteth the Covenant of her God^q 3. Pride, and profusive spending and wasting their estates in costly Cloaths beyond their degree, or any other wayes, Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of Gold, or of putting on of Apparel.^r 4. Unsubjection unto, and imperiousness over their Husbands, as if they were their foot, to be commanded by them, and not their head to rule over them; and this accompanied with frowardness and a contentious Spirit, disturbing their Husbands with their evil speeches and clamours, The contentions of a Wife are a continual dropping.^s 5. Evil surmises, and suspicions of their Husbands without reason, unkind behaviour towards them, whatsoever kindnesses they receive from them; foolish speaking of their faults before others to their provocation, instead of loving and meek admonitions when they are alone to their amendment. 6. Deafning their ear unto the loving Counsels, and faithful reproofs of their Husbands for their Souls good, growing the worse in and not the better thereby.

What are the sins of Husbands against their Wives?

The sins of Husbands against their Wives are, 1. Want of that endeared love and kindness which is due to their Wives; bitter speeches, unkind, and unreasonable Jealousies; revilings, and rage at their advice, especially when it is loving and meek, and for the real good of body or estate, or name, or soul, Husbands love your Wives and be not bitter against them^t 2. Unfaithfulness unto their Wives, and that either in reference unto their Bodies by Adultery; or in reference unto their Souls by neglect of such advice, reproof, or instruction as may be for their Souls good, especially by drawing them unto sin to their Souls ruine, The Lord hath been a witness between thee and the wife of thy Youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy Companion and the Wife of thy Covenant,^u Then the men which knew that their Wives had burnt Incense unto other gods, answered: as for the word which thou hast spoken unto us in the Name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.^v

What are the sins of Servants against their Masters?

The sins of Servants against their Masters are, 1. Disobedience unto their lawful, and fit commands, or unwilling obedience, or eye-service of them only, neglecting their business when their backs are turn’d, Servants obey in all things your Masters, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God; and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as unto the Lord.^w 2. Dishonouring them by reviling speeches to them, or reproachful speeches of them; or by any kind of rude and saucy behaviour before them. 3. Lying, or any ways dissembling with them; wronging, or any ways defrauding of them in their estates, He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my House; he that telleth Lyes shall not tarry in my sight.^x 4. Repining at their provisions without cause; impatience, anger, discontent, surliness, and answering again when reproved for their faults, Not answering again.^y 5. Receiving no instruction from them; withdrawment from, or negligent and sleepy attendance upon Family-worship.

What are the sins of Masters against their Servants?

The sins of Masters against their Servants are, 1. Requiring and command them to do any thing which is in it self sinful, or encouraging of them by their example so to do, it may be the Lord will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom his Master hath sent to reproach the living God.^z 2. Requiring their whole time for themselves, and not allowing them sufficient for the refreshment of nature, and daily secret worship of God. 3. Proud imperious carriage towards them, and ruling over them with severity and continual chiding and Threatnings; discontent, and dissatisfaction, with all their willing endeavours to do them service; too eager insisting upon, and too frequent upbraiding them with their faults, Forbearing threatning.^aa 4. Niggard pinching, and with-holding from them their convenient Food; or things needful for them when they are sick, as also keeping back from them their due wages, Behold the Hire of the Labourers which have Reaped down your Fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth.^bb 5. Neglect of their Souls, and of Family-worship with them, Pour out thy fury upon the Families that call not upon thy Name.^cc

What are the sins of people against their Ministers?

The sins of people against their Ministers are, 1. Hatred and persecution of them, either with the hand or tongue, making slanders, or taking them up without proof, and no ways esteeming and honouring of them as Ministers of Christ, and Embassadors sent from Heaven unto them, I will remember his deeds which he doth, prating against us with malicious words,^dd His letters (say they) are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible,^ee He that despiseth you despiseth me.^ff 2. Forbearing to hear them through an itching ear, slightness of Spirit in hearing, and any ways grieving of them by their unbelief, hardness of heart, unfruitfulness, divisions amongst themselves, unstedfastness and unsutable conversation unto the Gospel which their Ministers do preach amongst them, For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine, but after their own lusts shall heap up to themselves Teachers, having itching ears: and they shall turn away their ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto Fables,^gg He looked about with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts,^hh Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears.ⁱⁱ 3. Restraining Prayer for them, denial of required submission and obedience unto them, with-holding due maintenance from them, or any ways neglecting the duties required of people to their Ministers.

What are the sins of Ministers against their People?

The sins of Ministers against their people are, 1. Want of sincere and tender love to their Souls, seeking more to receive earthly gain from them, than to do any good unto them, I seek not yours, but you,^jj His Watchmen are blind, they are greedy Dogs which can never have enough: they look every one for his gain from his Quarter.^kk 2. Negligence in their prayers and studies for them, and in their Preaching the Word to them, Give attendance to Reading, and Exhortation, and Doctrine; Neglect not the Gift that is in thee, which was given thee by Prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the Presbitery.^ll 3. Unwatchfulness over them, unprofitableness in their discourse amongst them, unsuitableness of Conversation unto their Doctrine and Profession, unteaching that by their Lives which they Teach in their Pulpits. 4. Corrupting the Word they preach, and infecting the minds of their people with Erronious Opinions, We are not as many which corrupt the Word of God.^mm

What are the sins of Subjects against their Magistrates?

The sins of Subjects against their Magistrates are, 1. Rebellion against them, and any treasonable seeking their overthrow and ruine, An evil man seeketh only Rebellion, therefore a cruel Messenger shall be sent against him.ⁿⁿ 2. Unsubjection and disobedience unto their good and righteous Laws, Wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.^oo 3. Neglecting of Prayer for them, and instead thereof, speaking evil of them, Presumptuous, are they self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities.^pp 4. Reviling speeches unto them, and irreverent behaviour before them, Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the Ruler of thy people,^qq And Araunah went out and bowed himself before the King.^rr 5. Denial of their just dues, and any ways defrauding of them, Owe no man any thing.^ss

What are the sins of Magistrates against the Subjects?

The sins of Magistrates against their Subjects are, 1. Making Laws which are contrary unto the Laws of God, Hast thou not signed a Decree, that every man that shall ask a Petition of any god or man within thirty days, save of thee O King, shall be cast into the Den of Lyons?^tt 2. Oppression, Tyranny, and Cruelty in their Government, As a roaring Lyon, and ranging Bear, so is a wicked Ruler over the poor people. The Prince that wanteth understanding, is also a great Oppressor, but he that hateth Covetousness, shall prolong his days.^uu 3. Seeking their own Interest, rather than the Interest of the commonwealth. 4. Discountenance, and discouragement of the Good and Righteous, together with Encouragement and Preferment of the Wicked and Unrighteous. 5. Unsubjection to the Laws of God themselves, and by their evil Example encouraging others to do the like, The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.^vv

What are the sins of the younger and weaker in Gifts, and Graces, against them that are aged and stronger?

The sins of the younger and weaker in Gifts, and Graces, against them which are aged and stronger, are: 1. A proud conceitedness of Wisdom and worth in themselves, beyond their elders and betters, together with a dispising of them in their hearts, and judging of them for making use of their known Liberty, Not a Novice, lest being lifted up with Pride, he fall into the condemnation of the Devil,^ww Let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth.^xx 2. A rude and undecent taking place of them, or any ways irreverent carriage towards them, Sit not down in the highest Room, lest a more honourable than thou be bidden; and he say, give this man place.^yy 3. A masterly spirit and stiff will, which will not yield to their wise Counsels, and advice for their good.

What are the sins of the aged and stronger in Gifts and Graces, against the younger and weaker.

The sins of the aged and stronger in Gifts and Graces, against the younger and weaker, are: 1. Giving them evil examples of Unholiness, Covetousness, Unrighteousness, Intemperance, or any Wickedness. 2. Contemptuous carriage towards them, or not giving due encouragement unto good beginnings. 3. Not bearing with their weakness, and despising of them, because of their infirmities, We then that are strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please our selves,^zz Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not.^aaa

What are the sins of Equals, one against another?

The sins of Equals, one against another are, 1. Hatred, Envy, Malice, inordinate anger towards, and evil speaking, either to, or of one another, and any ways injuring, Defaming and dishonouring, each other, Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice; and be kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another.^bbb 2. Instead of provoking one another unto Love & good Works, enticing one another, or yielding unto one anothers enticements unto sin, Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and good works,^ccc My Son, If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.^ddd 3. A private contracted selfish spirit, which keepeth them from any cordial diligent, and seeking of one anothers good, unless their own private carnal Interest be promoted thereby, Let no man seek his own, but every man anothers wealth.^eee