The Larger Catechism – Questions 121-130
Q.
121. Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?
A.
The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandmenta,
partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby
helped in our preparation to keep itb, and, in keeping it, better
to keep all the rest of the commandmentsc, and to continue a
thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption,
which contain a short abridgment of religiond; and partly, because
we are very ready to forget ite, for that there is less light of
nature for itf, and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in
things at other times lawfulg; that it cometh 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 ith;
and that Satan with his instruments much labour to blot out the glory and even
the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impietyi.
a Exod.20:8 b Exod.16:23; Luke 23:54,56 compared with Mark 15:42;
Neh.13:19 c Ps.92:title compared with vv.13,14; Ezek.20:12,19,20 d
Gen.2:2,3; Ps.118:22,24 compared with Acts 4:10,11; Rev.1:10 e
Ezek.22:26 f Neh.9:14 g Exod.34:21 h Deut.5:14,15; Amos
8:5 i Lam.1:7; Jer.17:21-23; Neh.13:15-23
Q.
122. What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man?
A.
The sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man, is, to love our
neighbour as ourselvesa, and to do to others what we would have
them to do to usb.
a Matt.22:39 b Matt.7:12
Q.
123. Which is the fifth commandment?
A.
The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may
be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth theea.
a Exod.20:12
Q.
124. Who are meant by father and mother in the fifth commandment ?
A.
By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only Natural
parentsa, but all superiors in ageb and giftsc;
and especially such as, by God's ordinance, are over us in place of authority,
whether in familyd, churche, or commonwealthf.
a Prov.23:22,25; Eph.6:1,2 b 1 Tim.5:1,2 c Gen.4:20-22;
Gen.45:8 d 2 Kings 5:13 e 2 Kings 2:12; 2 Kings 13:14; Gal.4:19 f
Isa.49:23
Q.
125. Why are superiors stiled Father and Mother?
A.
Superiors are stiled 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 relationsa; and to work
inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in performing their duties
to their superiors, as to their parentsb.
a Eph.6:4; 2 Cor.12:14; 1 Thess.2:7,8,11; Num.11:11,12 b 1
Cor.4:14-16; 2 Kings 5:13
Q.
126. What is the general scope of the fifth commandment?
A.
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
equalsa.
a Eph.5:21; 1 Pet.2:17; Rom.12:10
Q.
127. What is the honour that inferiors owe to their superiors?
A.
The honour which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in
hearta, wordb, and behaviourc; prayer and
thanksgiving for themd; imitation of their virtues and gracese;
willing obedience to their lawful commands and counselsf; due
submission to their correctionsg; fidelity toh, defencei,
and maintenance of their persons and authority, according to their several
ranks, and the nature of their placesk; bearing with their
infirmities, and covering them in lovel, that so they may be an
honour to them and to their governmentm.
a Mal.1:6; Lev.19:3 b Prov.31:28; 1 Pet.3:6 c Lev.19:32; 1
Kings 2:19 d 1 Tim.2:1,2 e Heb.13:7; Phil.3:17 f
Eph.6:1,2,5-7; 1 Pet.2:13,14; Rom.13:1-5; Heb.13:17; Prov.4:3,4; Prov.23:22;
Exod.18:19,24 g Heb.12:9; 1 Pet.2:18-20 h Tit.2:9,10 i 1
Sam.26:15,16; 2 Sam.18:3; Esth.6:2 k Matt.22:21; Rom.13:6,7; 1
Tim.5:17,18; Gal.6:6; Gen.45:11; Gen.47:12 l 1 Pet.2:18; Prov.23:22;
Gen.9:23 m Ps.127:3-5; Prov.31:23
Q.
128. What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors?
A.
The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties
required toward thema; envying atb, contempt ofc,
and rebelliond against, their personse And placesf,
in their lawful counselsg, commands, and correctionsh;
cursing, mockingi, and all such refractory and scandalous carriage,
as proves a shame and dishonour to them and their governmentk.
a Matt.15:4-6 b Num.11:28,29 c 1 Sam.8:7; Isa.3:5 d 2
Sam.15:1-12 e Exod.21:15 f 1 Sam.10:27 g 1 Sam.2:25 h
Deut.21:18-21 i Prov.30:11,17 k Prov.19:26
Q.
129. What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
A.
It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God,
and that relation wherein they stand, to lovea, pray forb,
and bless their inferiorsc; to instructd, counsel, and
admonish theme; countenancingf, commendingg,
and rewarding such as do wellh; and discountenancingi,
reproving, and chastising such as do illk; protectingl,
and providing for them all things necessary for soulm and bodyn:
and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to Godo,
honour to themselvesp, and so to preserve that authority which God
hath put upon themq.
a Col.3:19; Tit.2:4 b 1 Sam.12:23; Job 1:5 c 1 Kings
8:55,56; Heb.7:7; Gen.49:28 d Deut.6:6,7 e Eph.6:4 f 1
Pet.3:7 g 1 Pet.2:14; Rom.13:3 h Esth.6:3 i Rom.13:3,4 k
Prov.29:15; 1 Pet.2:14 l Job 29:12-17; Isa.1:10,17 m Eph.6:4 n
1 Tim.5:8 o 1 Tim.4:12; Tit.2:3-5 p 1 Kings 3:28 q
Tit.2:15
Q.
130. What are the sins of superiors?
A.
The sins of superiors are, besides the neglect of the duties required of thema,
an inordinate seeking of themselvesb, their own gloryc,
ease, profit, or pleasured; commanding things unlawfule,
or not in the power of inferiors to performf; counsellingg,
encouragingh, or favouring them in that which is evili;
dissuading, discouraging, or discountenancing them in that which is goodk;
correcting them undulyl, careless exposing, or leaving them to
wrong, temptation, and dangerm; provoking them to wrathn;
or any way dishonouring themselves, or lessening their authority, by an
unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss behaviouro.
a Ezek.34:2-4 b Phil.2:21 c John 5:44; John 7:18 d
Isa.56:10,11; Deut.17:17 e Dan.3:4-6; Acts 4:17,18 f
Exod.5:10-18; Matt.23:2,4 g Matt.14:8 compared with Mark 6:24 h
2 Sam.13:28 i 1 Sam.3:13 k John 7:46-49; Col.3:21; Exod.5:17 l
1 Pet.2:18-20; Heb.12:10; Deut.25:3 m Gen.38:11,26; Acts 18:17 n
Eph.6:4 o Gen.9:21; 1 Kings 12:13-16; 1 Kings 1:6; 1 Sam.2:29-31
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